As women, we may often feel like there are certain expectations we need to meet. Whether it’s having a successful career or getting married and starting a family, there can be a lot of pressure to live up to the expectations of those around us.
The pressure to make the “right” decisions can be extremely stressful for many women. However, there is no need to feel like you need to live a life that doesn’t fit your definition of happiness. When making important life decisions, there are certain things you shouldn’t allow outsiders to influence.
Here are a few life decisions that should be totally up to you.
- Getting Married
There is a lot of pressure on women to get married. However, that same pressure doesn’t seem to be put on men. When women feel rushed or pressured to get married, they may decide that they’re ultimately unhappy with.
Deciding to get married is a major decision. You should never feel pressured to marry a specific person or even get married in general. If you feel like the decision isn’t right for you, ignore anyone trying to tell you to do something different.
- Having Children
As women, we’re often reminded of our role in having children. While it may feel like your responsibility to bring children into the world, some women just have no interest in being mothers. If this is how you feel, it’s important to remember that it is totally normal.
Don’t allow anyone, including your family, friends or even your spouse, pressure you into having children before you’re ready or at all. As an intimate decision that can dramatically transform your body and your life, you shouldn’t rush into becoming a mother just because someone else told you it’s important. If the thought of being a mother doesn’t excite you, don’t feel guilty.
- Starting a Career
Women often feel like they need to have both a career and a family. While there are many women out there who can successfully juggle being an awesome mom and a successful career, it isn’t for everyone. Taking on that kind of pressure can leave anyone feeling stressed.
Your career should be a decision you make entirely on your own. Whether you’d like to put your career on hold to start a family or you want to make your career your priority, the decision is all yours. Choosing a career that makes you happy is the most important thing.
- Beauty Routines
When it comes to taking care of our skin and hair, each woman will have her own preferences. However, with the amount of beauty companies out there, it’s common to feel pressured to get in on the latest beauty fads. While it may be fun to try out new things, no one knows your skin or body as much as you do.
When selecting beauty products or spa treatments you’d like to receive, select those that reflect your own preferences and views. Don’t allow pressure from someone around you to influence the beauty routine decisions that you make.
- Getting Dressed
There seems to be a lot of talk about what women choose to wear. Whether it’s attire they wear to the office or the casual outfit they throw on to buy groceries, a woman’s outfit will be criticized no matter what. However, these opinions shouldn’t influence what you wear.
Whenever you get dressed, you want to put on something that is comfortable to you. When you’re wearing an outfit that you love, you’ll be confident all day. If someone doesn’t love your outfit the same, that’s fine. Remember how it makes you feel — not what others think.
- Friendships and Relationships
It can be difficult to cut someone out of your life. Whether it’s a family member, a significant other or a friend, there are some circumstances where it’s necessary to cut ties. However, this doesn’t make it any easier — especially if you feel pressured to keep the relationship going.
Who you spend your time with is ultimately your decision, even if that means removing an important person from your life. If you feel like someone is causing you more harm than good, make the decision to cut them out, no matter what anyone else is telling you. You have the ultimate say in who you allow in your life and you shouldn’t feel guilty about being selective.
Just about every woman has faced pressure throughout their lives. When there are so many expectations for what a woman should be or what she should be doing, it can feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions. Because there are ultimately no “right” decisions, you should always focus on making the choices that make you the happiest.
