Couples, romance... they're everywhere! We've all been "informed" of how delightful being in a relationship is, if not by a movie we've just watched, then by someone in our own households or schools. Unfortunately, the opposite- being single- has rarely been shown as a sign of happiness. Therefore, sometimes, in our younger years, we may find ourselves holding onto the belief that we can only be happy with a significant other.
That, my friend, is simply not true.
In this article, I will give you 5 ways you can embrace and be happy with being single more. Keep in mind that this is not to say that you should never date anyone, but only to learn to be happy with yourself, with or without a significant other. Moreover, this is not a concrete list, so please keep your mind open and find more ways to be happy.
Alright, let's get into it!
1. You are Enough No Matter What
It's so easy to look at that popular couple in school and desire what they have; you might think that having a significant other would make you cooler or provide you with a better "high school experience." However, being in a relationship will not raise your worth or guarantee happiness. Moreover, the fact that a peer may have a significant other doesn't make them more or less of a person than you are.
As teenagers, we are sometimes misled to believe that dating is essential for happiness or for our social image, but that is simply not true. Dating is a wonderful experience, but only when you genuinely like someone, not when you want a relationship just for the heck of it.
Instead of waiting for or getting a significant other, we should spend our teenage years learning how to grow in self-respect and self-confidence, regardless of our relationship status. Why? So that throughout our high school years and beyond, we can become the best version of ourselves and live fully without experiencing self-pity just for being single.
Honestly, being single is awesome. You just have to know how to create your own joy!
2. Do You Have Feelings For Anyone?
Skip this if you are 100% sure the answer is no. But seriously, how are you supposed to be happily single if you have feelings for someone? The whole point of this article is to help you be happy without a partner.
However, if you firmly believe that you will be happier when you have that "someone" by your side, then what are you doing here? Go ask them out!
If this is someone that you are determined to move on from, I hope you succeed. It's a wonderful thing that you've set yourself on the path of letting go of the past and living more happily. Moving on is never easy, but you are a lot stronger than you think. It will get better because you're going to make sure of it.
3. Surround Yourself with Positive, Trustworthy People
Being single doesn't feel so lonely if you have good people around. When you have friends, you don't need a significant other to take you shopping, have sleepovers with, or vent to. However, it's important that the people you surround yourself with are trustworthy and good for you. Toxic people are essentially not good company, so be mindful of who you hang out with!
4. Don't Wait For Anyone to Ask, Just Go Have Fun!
People come and go; even the most beloved people in your life won't stay there forever. Throughout your whole life, the only person who'll always stick with you is yourself. Therefore, it's your responsibility to get the best out of what life has to offer and live the way you want (with or without a lover).
Like flowers? Buy some on the way home. Want to go to a fair this weekend?
Ask some friends or family members to go with you. Really love this outfit? Just wear it to school and don't spend all day worrying that people might be making snide comments about it.
Don't put the fun on hold until you're in a relationship. Just live and enjoy every piece of joy you can get every day.
5. Start a Glow-Up Challenge
This is especially rewarding if you've just come out of a not-very-wonderful relationship. Starting a glow-up challenge is the perfect opportunity to live better and take a step closer to becoming the person you want to be. In other words, it's perfect vengeance on someone who made you miserable: to be so much happier and better without them.
Think about what you want to improve about yourself. Your mindset, your lifestyle, your wardrobe, your grades, your social circle? Remember, the true glow-up is internal, so don't dwell too much on how you appear on the outside.
Be determined, be consistent, and always keep in mind that you are doing this for yourself. Have fun on the journey, and I wish you good luck!
Conclusion
Single or not single, we all deserve to be happy and self-confident. I hope the tips I gave will help you feel more confident about being single during your teenage years (and beyond). Good luck!
