Being a woman is tough. Being a woman in Nigeria is equally twice tough. From childhood, you told what to do, how to live, what to live for and how to behave. The reason behind these teachings is for you to be a good wife to your husband.
In this part of the world, too much emphasis is still placed on a woman’s marital status as a yardstick to measure a woman’s worth. No matter what a woman achieves, if she’s unmarried, many people, men and women alike, see her as incomplete.
But these days, many women are shattering these stereotypes by daring to live their lives at their own pace. This is because many women have made mistakes that have changed their lives for the worst.
As one goes through life, it is important to have a worthy sense of self so that one doesn’t live according to the dictates of other people.
Below are 10 mistakes women should avoid in their quest for a good life:
- Trying to be like someone else. Many women unconsciously compare themselves to other women. They wish their face, body and height were like that of their friends. Then, they start loathing their body and appearance which gives rise to low self esteem.
- Saying yes to everything. This is the worst thing you can do to yourself as a woman. As a human being, you have the right to say no when you are not clear or convinced about something. Your ability to stand your ground makes you difficult to toy with.
- Dwelling on the past. It doesn’t matter what happened to you in the past. It may be devastating, painful and even heartbreaking, but if you keep dwelling on your past, you won’t make the most of your present. And your future suffers for it.
- Allowing your fears and insecurities rule your life. Women have moments they doubt themselves. But allowing your insecurities a free pass in your life is a disservice to your future. You have to be confident in who you are, what you want out of life and what you are going to do to get there.
- Lying to yourself and to others. This is another mistake women make just to belong. If you want to be successful in life, be real about who you are. Don’t lie about yourself, your age, your job or your achievements. Be real to yourself and to others.
- Trying to be perfect. No human being is perfect. Women who know that they are imperfect are open to corrections, learning and amending their ways whenever they make mistakes.
- Allowing your emotions to rule you. Women should know that it is okay to feel down, worn out and confused at some point, but more importantly they should know how to weather the storm correctly. If there are any shortfalls on the emotional front, you should recognize them and adjust accordingly.
- Living a purposeless life. Any woman who doesn’t have dreams and goals about the kind of life she wants for herself ends up settling for less than she deserves. This woman will be swayed by things that are harmful to her life and future.
- Loving the wrong man. Love is not complicated. You cannot force a man to love or respect you. You demand it by the things you allow and reinforce in your relationships. If a man is treating you badly, leave. You deserve to be loved as you love.
- Trying to please everyone. You cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try. If you have this at the back of your mind, you will do your best for others but you won’t displease yourself or drive yourself to debt just to please others.
