The Opportunity in Being Single

You are not your relationship status. On the surface, it sounds pretty obvious. You’ve probably heard it, told it to yourself, and even told it to other women. Yet, it continues to be a message so many women struggle to genuinely internalize. It’s challenging to be single and surrounded by wedding bells—especially if you’re always the one wearing a bridesmaid dress. With all weddings and new relationships, it can be hard to see singleness as an incredible opportunity in your life. However, being single could help you succeed and create opportunities.  

Investing in Your Goals:

One of the best things about being single is having the freedom to invest in yourself and pursue your goals. As a single person, you have more time to put effort into the accomplishments that are important to you. If you’re a college-aged person, this is a fantastic time to get serious about your education. Studies show those with a bachelor’s degree earn much more than those without a college education. If you’ve already graduated, now is a great time to work on advancing your career or earning a graduate degree. No matter what age you are, you can always use this time to work on personal goals such as exercising more or traveling.

Pursuing Personal Growth:

As a single person, you have the time and energy to become the person you’ve always dreamed of becoming. Times of singleness are great for introspection and personal development since you aren’t distracted by a relationship. Find out who you want to be, and put time and effort into becoming that person. Today can be the day you finally pursue that hobby that’s always interested you. Right now you have the time to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that women spend nearly five hours per day in leisure activities. Put those five hours toward a skill you’ve always been interested in, or developing that hobby you’ve always been passionate about.

Never Settle for Less:

When everyone is celebrating their anniversaries, engagements, and weddings, it can be really tempting to hop into the first relationship that presents itself. But, you should never allow fear of being alone to inspire you to settle. Relationships complement your happiness, they don’t create it. And, if you’re with someone who treats you poorly and doesn’t support your goals, you will find that a relationship can make you miserable. Also, fear of never marrying is never a good enough reason to stay in a relationship that you aren’t happy in. While starting over with someone new might be difficult, spending the rest of your life with someone who makes you unhappy is guaranteed to be more difficult.

You Are Worthy of Opportunity:

Though it may be hard to internalize, your relationship status really doesn’t say anything about your self worth. Each moment in our lives represents an investment opportunity: we’re constantly given the chance to positively impact our futures. If you’re struggling with being single, or the fear of never marrying, it’s time to refocus your attention on the investment opportunity in front of you. Instead of focusing on what you’re lacking, now is the perfect time to focus on the things that make you excited about life.