Independence: What Does It Mean to You?
When I hear the word “independence,” it reminds me of freedom. Freedom to make my own choices, freedom to live life on my own terms, and freedom to chase my dreams without anybody holding me back. Independence, to me, is not just about countries breaking free from colonial rule. It’s also about personal growth and standing on your own two feet as an individual. It is about being able to say “yes” or “no” without being manipulated or forced. It’s the ability to walk my own path even if the whole world is going in the opposite direction.
Honestly, I do consider myself an independent person, at least to a certain level. I wouldn’t say I have it all figured out, but I have grown to depend more on myself than others. I take pride in handling my personal business without running to people all the time. From simple things like making my own decisions about what to eat, where to go, or how to spend my time, to more serious matters like choosing my career path and controlling the people I allow into my life. I always tell myself, “Nobody will understand your journey like you do.” I have learnt the hard way that relying too much on people can leave you disappointed. So yes, I would confidently say I’m independent in my own way, even though there’s still room for growth.
If I’m being honest, one area of my life I really want to conquer with independence is financial independence. This is one area where I feel like I still have some chains tied to me. Being financially independent means I wouldn’t have to depend on anyone to sort out my needs or desires. It means I can afford my basic needs without worrying about who will come through for me. I don’t just want to make enough to survive; I want to make enough to live comfortably, help others, and still have peace of mind. I am actively working on this by developing skills, pursuing opportunities, and pushing myself to be better. Financial independence is very important to me because, truthfully, money plays a big role in one’s freedom.
Now, when it comes to emotional independence, I strongly believe it is possible, though it doesn’t come easy. Emotional independence, to me, means being in charge of your own feelings without letting others control your happiness or sadness. It means I don’t have to wait for anybody’s validation before I feel good about myself. I can comfort myself when I’m down, and I can motivate myself to keep moving forward. I have learnt not to depend too much on people to lift me up emotionally because people will not always be available. That doesn’t mean I don’t value support or relationships, but I believe a strong person is one who can face their emotions and rise above them without leaning too heavily on others.
Talking about independence reminds me of my country, Nigeria. I wish I could say we have complete independence, but that would be deceiving myself. Politically, we are independent, yes, but when it comes to economic and social independence, it’s a different story. We still depend a lot on foreign countries for basic things. Most of our products are imported, and our economy is influenced by global decisions. Socially, many of our values have been replaced with foreign cultures. It sometimes feels like we got rid of colonial masters but ended up being mentally colonized. Independence should go beyond raising a flag every October 1st. It should reflect in our economy, our culture, and our day-to-day lives. Sadly, that’s still a battle we are fighting as a nation.
On a personal level, I have had to fight for my own independence, especially from family expectations. Growing up, it felt like everyone had a picture of what my life should look like. You must study this course, you must behave this way, you must marry at this age, you must not do this or that. I reached a point in my life where I said, “Enough is enough.” I had to break free from all those expectations and start living my life for me. It wasn’t easy because people thought I was being rebellious, but I knew I was just taking control of my life. Today, I’m happier because I chose my own path, and though I still respect my family, I no longer allow anyone to dictate how I live my life. That is one fight I’m proud of.
When I think about the different types of independence personal, financial, and emotional I honestly feel personal independence comes first. Why? Because without personal independence, it’s hard to achieve the others. If you’re not strong enough to make your own decisions, you will struggle to be financially independent because you’ll always rely on others to tell you what to do. You will also struggle with emotional independence because you’ll constantly seek approval from others. Personal independence is like the foundation, and from there you can build financial and emotional freedom. All three are important, but personal independence is the backbone.
In summary, independence is more than just a word. It is freedom in its truest sense. It is choosing your own path and having the courage to follow it, even when it gets tough. It is building yourself in every way possible so you don’t have to live under anyone’s shadow. I believe every human being deserves independence personal, financial, and emotional and I am on a journey to conquer them all.
Inviting @imohmitch @kwinberry @yenny47