I always aspire to be like the confident women I see. Although I am optimistic, there are times when my optimism varies, and I feel insecure. I love learning about what it takes to be confident and how this can influence how you live your life.
The more secure you are in yourself and the more love you give to yourself, the more confident you are. Nurturing this feeling is essential, as it will lead you to live a happier life. This blog post is all about confident women with habits you need to implement into your life.
Since it is Women’s History Month, comment below on other confident women who inspire you!
Confident Women from The White House:
Michelle Obama
First up on our list of confident women is Michelle Obama. As the former first lady of the White House, I look up to Michelle Obama for confidence tips. She emphasises education for girls and a healthy lifestyle above most things.
Not only is she an avid supporter of education for girls, but she went to Princeton, obtaining a law degree and becoming a superstar in the education field. One of my favourite quotes from Mrs. Obama is that “she gives herself the permission to be happy” during the day—whatever that may look like.
Although she wakes up at 4:30 A.M. every day, which may not be sustainable for all of us, this is how she checks in with herself. Permitting herself to be happy throughout the day ties into all corners of her life, her physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This includes listening to her body when she is tired and eating what makes her happy while still fueling her body.
Not only this, but she also rewrites the narrative in her head about whether she matters or not. This beautiful extract from British Vogue shows how Michelle Obama understood herself and accepted all her flaws (whether they were considered flaws in the first place).
She found beauty in her differences and allowed these to be her strengths rather than weaknesses. This is when you “remove yourself from other people’s mirrors” and have the agency to think about yourself on your terms.
Confident Women in the Entertainment Industry:
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is an incredible actress with poise and class. I admire her talent for elegantly playing various roles and unique takes on each one. 2017, she even received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama. How amazing is that?
In an interview with Vogue Arabia, the actress, one of the many confident women in the entertainment industry, says, “Put blinders on those things that conspire to hold you back, especially the ones in your own head.”
In other words, this quote reminds confident women that we are our worst critics, and the things that we believe will hold us back are just in our heads. Whenever you think about pursuing a passion or any endeavour and start to doubt yourself, take a moment to look at those doubts and realise there is always a solution to them.
The only way to confront your doubts is to believe in yourself and trust yourself in the process. I often forget to trust myself in the process. Remind yourself that you made it up until this point, so you are capable of anything!
Confident Women in the Music Industry:
Beyoncé
As a Texan native, I could not exclude Beyoncé, one of the most successful women in the Music Industry. With 32 Grammys (the most in Grammy history!), I think it is safe to say she has accomplished a lot in her life.
She is a talented musician and has become a role model for many, with her music inspiring many to feel empowered. A quote that I found impactful was this one below:
As I mentioned, it is easy to feel like your worst critic. But, if we spoke to ourselves the way we would talk to a loved one, the self-worth and value we assign ourselves could be much higher. When we speak to the ones we love most, we are gentle and careful, but we don’t cut ourselves slack when it is you – the person you must confront in the mirror.
So, the next time you struggle to identify what you bring to the world and who you are, talk to yourself as if it were your best friend. You have to learn to be your own best friend. Thanks, Yoncé 😉
Confident Woman Quotes
Angela Davis
Some confident quotes for women include, “I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change… I’m changing the things I cannot accept.” Angela Davis, an American political activist known for her radical Marxist and feminist academic work, said this. She inspires many and has many quotes from which we can all learn.
To further break down this quote for confident women (BTW, this is not limited to just women, and this quote was not said in the context of women, but I thought it fits nicely within this post), Davis is trying to push you to realise that once you break the barrier of believing that something is impossible, you will start to realise how much you can achieve and change.
You can have a more significant influence than you imagine; you simply have to look at what you “do not accept” and start learning from there. Do not settle for less; you are more capable than you realise.
Bell Hooks
Another notable American author and educator, Bell Hooks, is known for her work on feminism, class, and race. In her book Feminism is for Everyone: Passionate Politics, a notable quote is: “If any female feels she needs anything beyond herself to legitimate and validate her existence, she is already giving away her power to be self-defining, her agency.”
Let’s explore this quote for confident women further. Bell Hooks reminds us that if you need something or someone else for validation, you are relinquishing the power that you have within you. You give yourself power by being the only source of approval you need. We have often been taught to feel that we need validation from others but to have power. Indeed, you must have it from yourself.
Conclusion
Overall, there are some incredible and inspiring women from whom we can all learn. But, I want to remind you to think of yourself as your role model, take power in knowing who you are, and set examples for yourself that you would follow; think about your younger self and who they wanted to be; be that person for you. The only person you are taking care of is yourself! We can all be the confident women we want to be.