Women reveal the best thing they have done for themselves and it's so empowering

Championing yourself

Society and family usually expect women to fulfill certain expectations they hold for them. Society often frowns upon a woman who puts her needs above others. But sometimes, a few of them put their foot down, take a stand and make themselves a priority. Some women realize it is vital to take care of their well-being before caring about others. u/Pinkpeony787 asked the ladies of the Reddit community to share the best thing they have done for themselves, doesn't matter big or small. The women showed up in the comment section with a range of different answers where they disclosed how some of them have noticed a big difference in their lives by making small and thoughtful changes for themselves. Whereas others have to make big decisions to put their lives back on track, but it ultimately helps them in the long run.

1. Going against the societal norms

Waiting to get married. There are times I could have been married at 18 or in my twenties. My parents divorced and remarried, and my sisters have all divorced and remarried as well. I'm the only one who never made the jump. Waiting until my mid-thirties to have my head screwed on right, knowing who I am as a person, the kind of person I want, and the kind of person who's right for me is probably the single best thing I've ever done for myself. I grew up in Utah, where everyone was getting married at 18 and we were taught that to be 25 and unmarried is to be a menace to society. Beating the statistics and loving it. - u/sarahmarvelous

2. Started thinking for oneself

So the biggest thing I've done for myself and start not to care as much what others think of me and to do what is best for myself. I, unfortunately, had a really hard teenhood thanks to some really bad boyfriends who did quite a number on me physically and mentally, so, I had a really hard time ever trusting anyone or being content with myself. It took until I started dating my husband and getting married to him for me to start to feel like I was worthy of everything good in this world and I built the confidence I have today to know that no one can tell me I am worthless or beyond love. The smallest but best thing I've done for myself is try hairstyles! I ended up finding what looks great on me and have been rolling with it since. - u/yungl11nk

3. Being kinder to your body

As someone who was told to be skinnier over and over and over. Finally, I started loving my body. It has made me the happiest I have ever been. My body has done so much for me. Protecting my most vital assets and now she's rewarding me with muscles. I worked hard and gave her the nutrients, love and encouragement she needed to recover. Now, I'm getting rewarded for it. Getting a reward for reaching a goal has tickled my soul with joy. - u/Tasty_Pastries

4. Removing toxic people from your life

Divorced a gloomy and unappreciative spouse, disconnected from social media and removed sharing my location with a sister friend who abused it and only wanted control over her friends and family's lives. She would get mad when I was off work and didn't choose to spend time with her (she's a new mum), but I had just dedicated almost 3 years of my life to being there for her through everything literally. Her pregnancy and I would wake up at 2 am if she called me while having breakdowns. But after her dad assaulted me in her home and I expressed I was no longer comfortable there, she turned into the victim, cussed me out and demoted me from being her child's god auntie instead of putting her foot on her dad's neck and telling his freeloader behind to move out. He never helped with the baby like he said he would, instead, he came and went whenever he felt like it. Removing her access to me was a top-tier move. She demanded way too much from me and gave all her other friends grace whenever they didn't come around or check in on her. - u/mamamiax94

5. Started traveling solo 

I went to Europe by myself. I wanted to go with my long-term boyfriend, but he had no interest or finances to go, so I went without him. He was pissed! But we were just dating, not committed. I had the best time. Now, we're married with kids and I'm so glad I went on that trip when I could and didn't let him talk me out of it. - u/CheddarCheeseCheetah. Deleted social media, moved away from my parents with a best friend of mine, traveled all over the world solo, casually dated without any expectations, going to concerts whenever I could. I don't know, just living in the present and I guess, finally putting my savings into WealthSimple. - u/287randnamegenerator

6. Working on mental health

My experience has been in psychotherapy. It's a slow process, but the therapist has helped me reconnect with being actually in body/feeling feelings, understanding them and their origin. She has helped reduce my anxiety very much. My panic disorder has also healed. It's a lot of self-learning. It can be a lot of talk, but being met with total acceptance, non-judgment and positive regard, something not really experienced outside a therapeutic relationship, has allowed walls to come down and doors to open that I didn't even know existed. It's a type of freedom within the psyche…recognizing and unlearning unhelpful old patterns we didn't know existed and replacing them with healthier choices that just feel better. - u/GlindaG

7. Small changes count

This is more a small picture than a big picture, but a few weeks ago, I put effort into having an everything shower, making myself my favorite meal, pouring a glass of wine for myself, which I'd been saving for a special occasion and watching a show I love. I soaked it all up. And I thoroughly enjoyed my night in by myself - I hadn't done that for ages. It felt really nice to deem myself worthy of doing those things. - u/Pugwhip

8. Opting for surgeries and procedures

Went through jaw surgery and started over with math from some pre-algebra to calculus II over the past few years. And starting to run. - u/elizabethmagpie. Therapy, setting boundaries with family, starting intermittent fasting, getting a membership (like OrangeTheory and Yoga), getting lip filler despite hesitation from being judged and honoring a consistent bedtime for myself. - u/Macncheesesounds. Got a breast reduction at 19 (lost 8 lbs of it). Started buying property in my early 20s. Got the degrees for free by working at the school I went to. Spent lots of one-on-one time with my grandparents while they were still alive. I have no regrets about not spending enough time together and have those memories now that I'm grandparent-less. Started powerlifting in 2014. Met a whole new group of people and learned so much about myself as I got strong as hell. - u/Puncrocc

9. Learning things for the first time

Started driving after being seizure-free for years (I have epilepsy). I was super scared too, but did it anyway. It snowballed into me being a much more independent person. I went back to school to get my bachelor's (now getting a master's). Took more opportunities further from home and got some killer internships. Started working out regularly because I could actually get to a gym and make more friends. It was kinda crazy going grocery shopping for the household without another person for the first time at age 26, as I always relied on other people to drive me. There was lots of stuff like that. Unless I was walking somewhere, I was never really alone. And I love being alone. Going swimming in a lake 20 miles away alone for the first time was bliss. We rely way too much on cars thanks to infrastructure in the United States outside of big cities and I honestly hate living in the city. - u/Struckbyfire

10. Disconnecting from social media

I disconnected completely for a year. It was overall very positive and I would do it again because it was a net positive. However, I'd find myself picking up my phone to scroll out of habit and finding no apps there. Finding other things to do to keep my brain occupied was a big one - I suddenly didn't have a constant distraction and at first, my anxiety skyrocketed because I wasn't distracting myself. But the hardest bit was being at lunch or around others at dinner or whatever and people scrolling, people picking up their phones constantly and realizing just how entrenched our society is on our phones now. I often felt quite lonely and left out. I fell behind on memes and lingo. Often people would forget to invite me to things because I wasn't on Facebook, therefore, couldn't see events and they wouldn't text me about an event. But I just saw it that the people who want me there will text. And it was true - I learned who my true friends were, who really wanted to see me and hang out because those people actually reached out and called me or directly invited me to things. - u/Pugwhip