Food. Drinks. Good vibes. The 4th of July holiday is usually spent with the people who mean the most to us - family and friends- surrounded by a glorious table of degustation. 

But when we peel back the curtain to what the 4th of July really means, it goes back to 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted the  Declaration of Independence.

The document, which was created by Thomas Jefferson, basically declared to the world (and specifically the British) that the colonies in America have united and formed what we now know as The United States of America saying that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.”

So in the spirit of independence, we want to dig deeper into the important life lessons we can learn from the values of the 4th of July.

 

Life lessons to become more independent

Be confident

Confidence is not something we're born with - which Is great because it's a skill that can be learned. Increase your confidence by accentuating the things you like about yourself, by doing little things like writing those traits on a piece of paper and looking over them each morning, or repeating matra's to yourself over the bathroom sink. Then focus on improving the areas you feel a little insecure about (let's be honest - we all have them). Increasing your self-esteem will absolutely boost your confidence and give you the invisible bounce in your step you may have skipped.

 

Have clear goals

Being motivated and focused on your goals is a sure-fire way to increase your independence. Having a clear action plan that goes through step-by-step what you need to do to achieve your goals means you'll stay focused on the bigger picture and feel more independent while doing so. Use the Declaration of Independence and the American Dream as proof that this is possible. Nothing happens overnight; it takes hard work, planning, and consistency, so in moments where you feel like giving up, remind yourself nothing good comes easy, and use that as fuel to achieve your goals. 

 

Learn more about yourself

Self-awareness is so critical when it comes to knowing who you are and what matters to you. Spending time getting to know yourself is very beneficial to improving your independence and not taking personally what others may (or may not) be saying about you. Understanding yourself - your likes, dislikes, dreams, ambitions, and hobbies is all about building character, and you can do this in many different ways. Some methods we love that help clear our heads are; journaling, meditation, and going for a walk. Be your own support system.

 

Spend time alone

Perhaps the most underrated activity is spending time with yourself, away from distractions. So put that phone away! Detaching from the world, even just for an hour, is a powerful lesson to be still with yourself for a moment. Often we surround ourselves with people - at work, at home, or organized events with friends - all these are incredible because we can learn so much from other people. But part of developing your independence is about learning to enjoy spending quality 'me-time' instead of jumping from one social interaction to another.

 

Stand up for yourself

Have you ever agreed to something, even though it makes you feel icky on the inside? Learning to stand up for yourself and saying 'no' will help you work through people-pleasing tendencies, and once you are no longer bothered by saying 'no,' we guarantee you'll feel a wave of confidence wash over you. You can feel and act independently of other people's opinions by enforcing boundaries. Trust in your thoughts and decisions, and if something feels 'off', don't agree to it.

 

Did you learn any life lessons this 4th of July? Let us know in the comments below.

 

As always, love the Easy Clothes team xx