Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
1. Excuses.
One or twice if something falls through is understandable but a constant stream of excuses isn’t acceptable. Strong women accept apologies but know when to stop accepting them and walk away. Any guy who is really good at excuses probably has had a lot of practice coming up with them.
2. Flakiness.
A strong woman won’t accept you cancelling last minute when she’s already dressed and ready to go. If you cancel on her you better be ready to make it up to her or she will walk away. If you promise a strong girl something you better follow through with it.
3. Disrespect.
What makes strong women so appealing is the respect they have for themselves. They will never tolerate being talked down to or belittled. If you make the mistake of doing such a thing she’s going to respect herself enough to walk away. She doesn’t need someone who doesn’t treat her well all the time and she sure as hell won’t choose somebody like that to spend her life with.
4. Being Controlled.
Strong women are independent women. They have their own life they are choosing to let you be a part of. Don’t tell her what she can and can’t do. Don’t tell her where she can and can’t go. Don’t tell her what she can and can’t wear. And if you think you’ll have to say in who she talks to think again. Strong women are the ones you can’t control.
5. Settling.
As high and as unrealistic strong women’s standards might be, she doesn’t budge. She knows what she wants and she looks for people who has those qualities. Because it’s the person you date that dictate where you go and what you accomplish in life.
6. Lying
Strong women are honest. They tell you they ran into their ex-getting coffee. They will tell you someone hit on them at the bar. They won’t leave you in the dark when it comes to anything. They expect the same loyalty in return. If they catch you in a lie they question if they can trust you and if they can’t trust you, there is no foundation that they can build a relationship on.
7. Cheating
Strong women will never tolerate cheating. If she catches you once that’s it for her. If she catches you playing her it doesn’t matter how you try to justify it. Strong women look for relationships that take them to the next level in their own life. If you’re going to cheat on her, a strong woman won’t ever blame herself but she knows it has everything to do with your own insecurities.
8. Waiting around.
Strong women know the value of their time. She’s not going to sit by her phone waiting for you. She also has the confidence to make any move she wants and she won’t bat an eye about it. Don’t text her three days later and expect a response because she knows her worth and your inability to see it has nothing to do with her.
9. Lack Of Support.
Strong women need support. They go after things and do much more than an average person does. If you don’t have her back and actually believe in her and motivate her she doesn’t need you in her life. Strong women value most the people who can take her the next level and help her to see things she might not be able to, help her to do things she wondered if she could. As confident as she is, sometimes she will fluster and it’s up to you to help her.
10. Manipulation
Strong women don’t respond to manipulation. So don’t even try.
11. Jealousy
Jealousy is a sign of insecurity. She can’t waste her time trying to convince you that you have her. She can’t keep repeating her guy friends are only that. She spent enough time working on herself and her own issues of insecurities. She knows the only way to beat it is build yourself up and that isn’t something a partner can teach you. Confidence comes from something within you, not from of the person sleeping next to you at night.
12. Unkindness
Being unkind is also a sign of insecurity. People are mean when they are threatened. Strong women will never choose someone who is mean because how you treat others reflects strongly on your own character.
13. Emotional Abuse And Toxic People.
Strong women don’t tolerate anyone treating them badly. If you go off on them, yell at them, and belittle them, they won’t forgive you so easily.
14. Neglect
She expects your time and attention because she’s willing to give you hers. If you decide to drop off the face of the earth and come waltzing back into her life after that, she’ll be sceptical.
15. Self Blame
Even strong women aren’t perfect. Like anyone, they make mistakes. But they own up and apologize. They will never dwell on the past or let it dictate their present. They will never overanalyze things wishing they did something different. If you aren’t calling her back or giving her the light of day she’s not going to blame herself for that.
The thing about strong women is they don’t need you. They learned to stop needing people. They want you. They are choosing you. And the right person will see the value in that.
By Kirsten Corley
This article first appeared in Thought Catalogue.
