Since as long as I could remember, men have always seemed to believe they were superior to women. Stronger, more stern, more capable of doing everything just right. It’s 2016, and I still see it to this day.

All my life I have been surrounded independent women. Women who have strived and sparkled in everything they did. I’ve come to realize that each one of these women have had some kind of man try to bring them down. Being raised by the most independent women I know I’ve come to realize that you will never need a man.

You don’t need a man to:

1. Be proud of you

You don’t need a man to tell you how proud he is of your success because truthfully it intimidates him. It scares him knowing you’re sparkling more than him.

2. To tell you you’re beautiful

Girls have a thing with believing they are only beautiful because a boy says so. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL because YOU believe so. Strong women know they stand tall, and shine brighter with confidence because they certainly know so.

3. Pay your expenses

You don’t need a man to support you, when you’re 110% capable of supporting yourself.

“I was raised to hustle like a man because I was told to never depend on one” (Unknown)

4. Be your happiness

Never let a man be a reason for your happiness. You’re happy because YOU strive to be the BEST YOU, you can be. You’re happy because you wake up every morning ready to conquer the day. You’re happy because you’re not dependent on a man.

5. To love you

Correction* You don’t need a WEAK man to love you. A weak man would never know how to love a strong woman properly. He would never know what to do with her. A STRONG man would match her love.

6. Put you down

Boys try and find weakness in strong woman because of their own personal insecurities. They will go out of their way to bring strong woman down to make themselves feel superior. Little do they know..

“You can break down a woman temporarily but a Real. Strong. Woman will always pick up the pieces, rebuild herself and come back stronger than ever” (Unknown)

7. To make you feel worthy

You, Yourself, the person you build yourself to be everyday are worthy of so much. You ARE worth something. You’re worth more than ANY man could ever make you feel. Know your worth and never settle for less.

8. To think you’re the problem

Weak men will find any reason to blame the woman, instead of owning up to it like a strong man.

“A strong woman will automatically stops trying if she feels unwanted. She won’t fix it or beg, she’ll just walk away.” (Unknown)

9. Not embrace your strong personality

“A weak man will never know what to do with a woman with a strong personality. She’ll speak her mind and he’ll blame her attitude for pushing him away, knowing damn well he was just too afraid of what she represents” (Unknown)

10. Make you feel like it isn’t okay to stand alone

If a man tries to convince you that you need him. You don’t need him. A weak man will try and make you believe that you’re inferior to him. Throw your heals on, show him who stands tall on her own!

11. To make you feel like you’re in competition

Truth is men will do what they want and how they want to do it. If you’re constantly afraid to leave him on his own without you then it is time to replace him. You are too strong to ever be in competition with any other girl. If your love isn’t enough to discipline him then he isn’t worthy enough for your time. You find a man strong enough to know better, to know not to put you competition with a girl when he marvels at the fact of how strong you are.

12. Make you feel like you’re not worth the fight

Boys will always believe they can find better and within those next few days they will find someone to distract him from those feelings of losing the Strong Woman he once had. Strong men would never put himself in that position because he knows what stands in front of him. If for a reason it does happen a strong man will fight. Because he knows what he has.

“Admit it boy you blew it, you really messed it up. You can make excuses if you really want to lose her. It’s all on the line, do or die time. Getting on your knees time” (Casey James)

"Nothing is weaker or smaller than the man who hurts women or children. Whether by his actions or by his words"

I’ve seen a lot of woman marry a weak man just to divorce them. Just because strong woman believe they can change a weak man. That is the only thing I’ve seen strong woman do wrong.

"No woman can love a weak man hard enough to make him strong" (Unknown)

All my life I've been told to be strong, independent woman. Everyday I strive just to be that. Being so blessed to have all these amazing women around me, I couldn't help but know my worth. That you don't need a man. You need yourself, your strong, hardworking self. A real strong man will come along and empower your strength not try to break it down because it scares him. Always remember that ladies.

Also, ladies remember

"Weak men revenge. Strong men forgive. Intelligent men ignore." (Unknown)

Stand tall and marvel. Astone people around you. Encourage the weak. Give everyone a reason to fight everyday. Be the woman that every girl strives to be.