Having the characteristics of an empowered woman is something to be proud of. If you haven’t already embraced these characteristics, or are wondering, what is an empowered woman, it’s a great thing to aspire to.

We all know an empowered woman when we see one. If you think about it, you might know several confident women like this.

Let’s explore what it means to embrace these qualities in your own life!

What does it really mean to live as an empowered woman?

First things first, what is an empowered woman? Generally, she is one who is powerful, strong-willed, and in control of her own destiny.

An empowered woman makes her own decisions

An empowered woman is often pushing toward her own goals and a better world. Instead of allowing society at large to direct her activities, she chooses her own path and marches down it courageously.

She supports other women

Empowered women choose to support other women across all areas of their life.

In both their personal and professional lives, empowered women are there to offer a helping hand and stepping stone to women on their own journey to empowerment.

8 characteristics of an empowered woman you should embrace

So what is an empowered woman? A confident woman embodies more than the 8 characteristics we will explore below.

In fact, the reality is that she embraces her vision for her life. Although everyone has different definitions of empowerment, the following characteristics are the hallmark of an empowered woman.

She is self-confident

Self-confidence might be the most important characteristic of an empowered woman.

As a part of self-confidence, these women tend to know exactly what direction they are heading. They aren’t passive passengers on the journey of life.

Instead, they have the confidence to make choices that align with their dream life.

This self-confidence might manifest itself in the form of sharing their opinion openly with others, choosing to ask for what they deserve in the workplace, and refusing to accept belittlement by others.

Usually, empowered women aren’t afraid to say what they think.

She is personable

When interacting with an empowered woman, you’ll likely find her very personable. Essentially, this means she is relatively easy to talk to.

Other ways to describe a personable woman include outgoing, charming, bubbly, and generous. Many empowered women are a joy to have a conversation with.

Although they are often relatively direct in a conversation, it’s usually enjoyable for both parties.

An empowered woman is approachable

An empowered woman isn’t an island. Instead of closing herself off from the world, she readily embraces new people and experiences.

Typically, empowered women have a ready smile that encourages others to ask questions. You’ll often feel completely at ease talking with these women.

If you are working on embracing the characteristics of an empowered woman, she’ll likely be ready to provide some helpful pointers for your success.

She takes pride in her appearance

Most empowered women take pride in their appearance. You likely won’t find her shopping in her pajamas unless she is experiencing a true emergency. Instead, empowered women are often well put together.

You might see one walking down the street in attire that projects their preferred message to the world. For example, an empowered businesswoman might wear an outfit that screams elite professional.

The great news is that you don’t need to spend a million dollars to look elegant. You can still look great on a budget.

She is a confident public speaker

Public speaking is an uncomfortable situation for many. Between 72% to 75% of the population suffers from public speaking anxiety, according to the University of Florida IFAS. But empowered women tend to be confident public speakers.

Many have to work hard to master this characteristic of empowered women. If you want to work on your public speaking skills, consider joining a Toastmasters group in your area.

An empowered woman is purpose-driven

Empowered women aren’t just floating through life. Most empowered women have audacious goals.

It’s one of the many characteristics that set an empowered woman apart from the crowd. In order to accomplish those goals, they keep pushing toward their purpose.

Consider all areas of your life when setting goals, especially your finances.

She learns continuously

Empowered women know that there is always more to learn. An innate curiosity pushes them to learn about new things continuously.

Whether they are learning new skills for their professional life or branching out in their hobbies, these women are often in pursuit of new knowledge.

And learning financial literacy should be high on the list for an empowered woman. From investing to saving, it’s important to understand money.

She is empathic

Last but not least, most empowered women are very empathic to the plights of those around them.

In many cases, empowered women had to fight through significant adversity to get where they are today. So, it’s often easy to understand what others are going through on the journey of life.

Many empowered women end up being mentors for the next generation because they want to help young women avoid their mistakes.

Tips for learning to live an empowered life

Now that you know what an empowered woman is, it’s likely you’ll want to become one yourself.

The good news is that it is absolutely possible to embrace the characteristics of an empowered woman.

However, it can take time and energy to achieve the level of empowerment you are searching for.

Be kind to yourself

If pursuing empowerment, the first action you should consider is learning how to be kind to yourself.

Negative self-talk can push you into a spiral of bad emotions. In contrast, being kind to yourself can propel you in the right direction.

According to Psychology Today, being unkind to yourself is an unhealthy habit. Empowered women strive to be kind to themselves. Instead of berating yourself for mistakes, be kind and learn from them.

Follow your instincts

Beyond being kind to yourself, embracing empowerment includes following your instincts. If you have an instinct about what direction you want to take in your personal or professional life, do your best to honor those feelings.

Of course, following your instincts is often easier said than done. That’s especially true when your audacious goals don’t quite match up with society’s ideals for womanhood. But following your instincts can lead you to the life of your dreams.

Back yourself up

Along the way, you’ll need to learn how to back yourself up. You’ll likely run into others who won’t agree with your choice of direction.

If you are dealing with unsupportive family members or friends, you’ll need to stick to your own path, which isn’t always easy without support.

Be confident in the value you bring to your workplace

The workplace is another arena where backing yourself up comes in handy. As a woman, it can pay off in a big way to embrace the characteristics of an empowered woman, especially when it comes to the gender pay gap and the racial wealth gap.

For instance, women earn 83 cents for every dollar a man earns, and this gender pay gap leads women to lose more than $400,000 each in their working lifetime, according to CNBC.

A confident woman knows her worth. If you know your own worth and are willing to back yourself up, you might be in a better position to ask for the raise you deserve.

Incorporate the characteristics of an empowered woman in your life starting today!

The characteristics of an empowered woman are something to embrace, not shy away from. As you learn these characteristics, it’s natural to hit some bumps in the road.

Consider looking for a confident woman to act as a role model for your future. Good role models can serve as a beacon of hope that what you are working toward is possible.

You can also stay inspired by reading books about leadership and understanding the power of mindset.