The Importance of Your Independence
Why is this important?
Independence Day is just around the corner. Independence is a way to celebrate personal choice and the ability to rely on oneself, trust your own judgment and feel self-confidence. Independence within one’s own health is important for making informed personal decisions.
Autonomy is a key foundation of the self-determination behavior change theory. Having autonomy and independence to make one’s own decisions is empowering and can be a way to make long-lasting sustainable health habits. “Self-determination theory is a macro theory of human motivation and personality that concerns people’s innate growth tendencies and innate psychological needs; it pertains to the motivation behind people’s choices in the absence of external influences and distractions”(Patrick & Williams, 2012). Motivation can be a dramatic factor in health behaviors, behavior changes, and overall well-being.
The value of independence is an important personal factor and may be weighted heavier in certain cultures. In a study looking at the value of independence and how it relates to a person’s well-being, it was noted that US culture has an emphasis on independence. “Specifically, the independent mode of being (which is fostered in American cultural contexts) emphasizes the pursuit of personal goals and an attendant sense of the self as efficacious and in control” (Kitayama et al., 2010).
Independence is deeply rooted in American cultures and values, the pathways that a person takes to feel their own sense of well-being are culturally ingrained within society; “they would also be expected to achieve wellbeing and health through the pathway of independence, that is, that of maintaining and enhancing personal control” (Kitayama et al., 2010).
Having control over your own health and wellbeing enhances self-esteem and confidence to pursue the best version of one’s journey. “Personal autonomy is widely valued, the recognition of its vulnerability in health care contexts led to the inclusion of respect for autonomy as a key concern in biomedical ethics” (Entwistle et al., 2010).
Respect for a person’s autonomy within the health care and wellness fields includes open conversations with people about what options would be the best for them, enabling people to make their own choices and what health or wellness interventions they want to receive or not (Entwistle et al., 2010). Being able to shape one’s own life according to what is important, what they value, and what they deem to be the best for them is how personal independence plays a major role in wellbeing. “Most people think it is preferable to somehow be their own person and shape their own lives than to live under the control of others” (Entwistle et al., 2010).
“In a longitudinal study conducted in a large sample group, stated that there was a mutual relationship between mental health and life satisfaction” to determine levels of life satisfaction, independence was noted as an important indicator (Bilge et al., 2020). Feeling self-reliant and self-confident helps to support mental health. Knowing you have control over your own choices, autonomy over health practices and behaviors, as well as the ability to succeed is empowering.
Overall
Being able to shape one’s own life according to what is important, what they value, and what they deem to be the best for them is how personal independence plays a major role in wellbeing. “Most people think it is preferable to somehow be their own person and shape their own lives than to live under the control of others” (Entwistle et al., 2010).
Personal independence is a value that much of the American culture is built upon, this value is something internalized by many members of this culture and motivation in accomplishing personal goals. Each person should have the right to choose what is best for them and live a life that supports those choices.
Tips
- Practice personal independence by listening to intuition, and standing up for causes or personal choices you believe are best.
- Choosing health care facilities and practitioners that support your voice, patient-centered care is a term that facilities may use that empowers a patient’s autonomy over their wellbeing.
- Set boundaries with people who diminish or don’t support your personal independence.
- Surround yourself with people who respect your choices and support you.
- Practicing self-care habits that include things that make you feel confident and boost self-esteem.
- Engage in habits or practices that you believe in within your own community, this could include local or national voting.
- Set aside some alone time for yourself or find ways you get to know yourself better.
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References
Bilge, A., Bulut-Uğurlu, N., & Güler, C. (2020). Determination of Independence and Life Satisfaction Level of Individuals with Mental Disorder. Florence Nightingale journal of nursing, 28(2), 124–132. https://doi.org/10.5152/FNJN.2020.19073
Entwistle, V. A., Carter, S. M., Cribb, A., & McCaffery, K. (2010). Supporting patient autonomy: the importance of clinician-patient relationships. Journal of general internal medicine, 25(7), 741–745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-010-1292-2
Kitayama, S., Karasawa, M., Curhan, K. B., Ryff, C. D., & Markus, H. R. (2010). Independence and interdependence predict health and wellbeing: divergent patterns in the United States and Japan. Frontiers in psychology, 1, 163. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2010.00163
Patrick, H., & Williams, G. C. (2012). Self-determination theory: its application to health behavior and complementarity with motivational interviewing. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 9, 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-9-18
