How Being Too Independent Has Kept You Single and What You Can Do

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Being Independent Kept You Single 1

Western society loves its steady junk food diet of independence and autonomy. We are constantly being force-fed the idea of self-sufficiency. But, this very idea has kept you single since long. 




โ€œBecome amazing, do it by yourself, donโ€™t complainโ€ฆ Be all that you can beโ€ฆ You donโ€™t need someone else to complete youโ€ฆ Depending on others is a sign of weakness.โ€

Being overweight on this โ€˜Me Firstโ€™ type of thinking has caused us to be severely malnourished in terms of having fulfilling relationships.

When you are overly focused on your needs and your happiness, then you stop focusing on others. Independence and connection are not mutually exclusive.



But instead of finding a partner, we become too independent. We stay busy working on our lives and our selves, to avoid any semblance of connection and intimacy. We fear that if we slow down we will feel the loneliness that our hearts are trying to tell us about.

How To Lean On Others In A Healthy Way?

Here are three quick steps to get you back to a place of connection and fulfilment.




1. Challenge Your Beliefs

First off, itโ€™s important to think about where you try to โ€˜go it aloneโ€™ too much. Where in your life are you afraid to ask for help? In love? In your job? From your parents or friends?

And then think about why you try and go it alone. Are you trying to prove to someone that you are capable of being independent? Do you feel like you would be perceived as weak if you asked for help? You will then realize what kept you single.

Realize that no person can exist completely independently of others. Humans are a social species and we need each other to survive. At a certain point, youโ€™re going to have to let others in.

Related: 10 Love Resolutions For The Single Woman

2. Take Stock Of Your Social Circle

How many people in your life would you say really know you? I mean, like, REALLY know you. They know your fears, your insecurities, your dreams, your aspirationsโ€ฆ

If your answer is anywhere between 1-5, thatโ€™s amazing. That is already better than most people who report having zero confidantes in their lives.




But if you canโ€™t truthfully answer that anyone really knows you, maybe itโ€™s time to start reaching out more often.

Related: Reasons Why A Strong, Independent Woman Is The Best Girlfriend Youโ€™ll Ever Have

3. Listen To Your Fears

fears

Do you know those things that youโ€™re nervous about doing? Maybe you donโ€™t want to reach out because it will make you look desperateโ€ฆ needyโ€ฆ powerless. Or you fear that it might make you indebted to someone or lower than them in some way?

Well, congratulations, whatever whisper in your mind just popped upโ€ฆ you just signed up to do it. Our fears and insecurities can be our greatest teachers when we start listening to them more often.

What Do We Really Need?

The truth of the matter is that, as much as we try to resist it, we need other people. We need them to teach us, to nurture us, to love us, and to help us grow.

And as happy, independent, and self-sufficient as you can become on your own, a much faster path to fulfillment would be embracing the intimacy and community that already exists all around you.

If your societal conditioning is getting in the way of letting you reach out for help, maybe itโ€™s time you started to listen to your heart instead of popular culture.




Dedicated to your success,

Jordan


Written by Jordan Gray
Originally appeared in Jordan GrayConsulting

Republished with permission.

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