13 things strong independent people always do (but never talk about)

Some people just seem to have a deep inner reserve of strength.

The kind of strength that makes them unafraid to live the way they want. The kind of strength that makes them able to handle whatever life throws at them.

But when you encounter these people in the wild, you’ll have to spot them for yourself. Because they don’t brag about it.

In fact, anybody who tells you how strong and independent they are probably isn’t.

So how do you know that someone is fiercely independent? Well, their actions will tell you.

Keep a lookout for these traits of strong, independent people who face the world on their own terms. Who knows? Maybe you’re one of them.

1) They are comfortable in their own skin

Let’s be honest: we live in a world where, for every ad campaign that tells us we are amazing and beautiful the way we are, there’s another trying to convince us that we would be happier if we bought their product or looked a certain way.

Although women generally get the worst of this, men are not immune either.

There is a huge industry behind trying to make us feel bad about the way we look and the way others perceive us.

But that just doesn’t work on independent people.

That doesn’t mean these people are arrogant or conceited. But it does mean they are comfortable with who they are and how they look.

They may even work to improve themselves through exercise. But at the same time, they accept themselves as they are, and don’t waste time worrying about what other people think.

2) People rely on them

An old saying states that you can know a person by the company they keep.

It’s also true that you can tell a lot about a person by how others treat them.

Strong-willed people are often admired by others who wish they were more like them. And strong people are some of the most reliable people around.

To an independent person, their word is everything, and it means more than social pressure from anybody else.

That’s why people come to rely on the independent people they know.

If you know someone who everyone relies on and knows they will come through, it’s a good sign they are a strong person.

3) They have interesting taste

This is a less obvious sign of an independent person, but it can be a very telling one.

Independent people don’t follow the crowd. And they don’t rely on tastemakers to tell them what they should and shouldn’t like.

That means their taste in music, movies, TV, books, or anything else can be very surprising.

Maybe they listen to Taylor Swift one minute, and Darkthrone the next. Maybe they read Harry Potter today, and Albert Camus tomorrow. They can laugh at a dumb comedy movie and appreciate a brooding classic of world cinema.

Independent people don’t care what others think, and they aren’t trying to impress anyone with their taste. That means they simply like what they like and don’t spend any time thinking about whether they should like it or not.

4) They plan for the future

Independent people know what they want. And that means they are uniquely able to go out and get it.

You’ll almost always find that strong-minded people have a plan for the future.

They may not have everything meticulously planned out to the last detail, but they have a general idea of where they want to be, and the steps it will take to get there.

That’s part of what makes these people some of the most accomplished people you’re likely to meet. Independent people follow their own goals and prepare for success, and that makes them almost unstoppable.

5) They spend time alone

Humans are social animals. That means we take our cues from others and rely on them both to make us happy and to give us a sense of who we are.

On the other hand, independent people don’t need any of that.

In fact, independent people don’t seem to need anyone at all. That often means they spend a lot of time alone, because sometimes, the best company is your own.

Having a strong sense of self, independent people don’t need anyone to tell them who they are.

6) They say no

Not always, and not all the time.

But one of the most striking traits of strong people is that they have no problem telling other people no when it’s appropriate.

The thing is, people will always test your boundaries. They will ask you to do favors for them or spend time doing something you don’t want to do.

Sometimes, you have no choice.

But other times, we all bow to social pressure and end up doing things we would really rather not do.

Strong, independent people are immune to that social pressure. They have no problem politely refusing to do something that they see no value in.

Sometimes, that can make them seem rude to others. But all it really means is that they have healthy boundaries and a good level of self-respect.

7) They lead

Because they don’t need validation from anyone else, strong people often make the best leaders.

They can make decisions based on the facts instead of on how people will think about them. And in a weird quirk of human psychology, it’s people who don’t seem to need validation from others that people most look up to.

That means strong-minded people are often found in leadership positions.

8) They tell the truth

Sometimes, the truth hurts. And calling yourself a strong person is no excuse for being tactless or rude.

On the other hand, honesty is often the best policy – even when people don’t want to face the truth.

Independent people know this. And because they aren’t swayed by what people think of them, they will generally tell the truth, no matter how it makes other people feel.

9) They accept responsibility

Being a strong person often means being honest with yourself as well as with others. That means accepting responsibility for what happens in your life.

On the other hand, it doesn’t mean accepting blame just because other people want you to.

But it does mean understanding that while you can’t control the world, you can control your reactions to it.

Independent people know that ultimately, they create their own circumstances, and they aren’t afraid to admit when they make mistakes.

10) They don’t cling to others

This one is kind of obvious. Still, it’s an important sign of someone with a strong sense of self.

Independent people are perfectly capable of loving and appreciating those around them. But they don’t need them to feel complete as a person.

Therefore, these people are never clingy. They don’t stay in bad relationships just because they are afraid of being alone, and they don’t try to control people around them.

11) They support themselves

Emotional and financial independence often go hand-in-hand.

Independent people are able to support themselves financially. They don’t mind working hard when it’s required, and would rather work to maintain their independence than rely on somebody else.

Often, these people end up running businesses. But whether they are entrepreneurs or pursue a career, they are all about standing on their own two feet.

12) They plan for emergencies

We’re talking about people who don’t like to rely on anybody but themselves. And that can even mean these people prepare for the worst.

They may have a stockpile of food, medicine, and toilet paper in case another pandemic shuts the world down. They may keep a can of gas in the garage so that they can always get where they need to go in an emergency.

They may have a generator or solar panels to make them independent of the energy grid.

This preparation can also show itself in small ways. Do they keep cash in the bank in case they lose their job? Do they keep their resume updated and their professional network maintained in case they ever need to look for new opportunities?

These are the signs of a person who knows how to rely on themselves.

13) They take risks

With that said, independent people are also not afraid to take risks when they see an upside to them.

Independent people don’t fear failure. Other people’s opinions of them don’t matter very much, and so they have no problem taking a risk that may not pay off.

Strong, independent people know that failure is part of success. That’s why they are willing to take risks weaker people wouldn’t.

Being independent 

Do these behaviors sound familiar to you? Maybe it’s someone you know. Maybe it’s even you.

Whoever it is, these behaviors show a person is strong, independent, and able to make their own way in the world.

It’s a great thing to be.