Approaching significant birthdays often prompts reflection on personal and professional milestones, highlighting both achievements and perceived shortcomings. Recently, in an interview with British Vogue, actress Emma Watson shared her peace with her relationship status as she neared 30, stating, “It took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered.” This statement begs the question: what is the Partnered Meaning behind “self-partnered”?
Clinical psychologist Dr. Carla Marie Manly offers valuable insight into this evolving concept. According to Dr. Manly, “self-partnering focuses on the ideal of being happy and complete as a solo individual. A self-partnered person would feel whole and fulfilled within the self and does not feel compelled to seek fulfillment through having another person as a partner.” The partnered meaning here isn’t about a traditional partnership with another person, but rather a partnership with oneself. It’s about prioritizing personal well-being and self-discovery. This perspective doesn’t exclude dating or future marriage; instead, it emphasizes the importance of self-understanding and personal growth as a foundational step. Dr. Manly emphasizes, “To be truly self-partnered, one must often invest a great deal of time and energy on personal development,” highlighting the active and intentional nature of this self-relationship.
The Rising Trend of Reframing Relationship Status and its Partnered Meaning
Emma Watson is not alone in redefining conventional relationship labels with positive connotations. In 2014, Gwyneth Paltrow introduced “conscious uncoupling” to describe her divorce from Chris Martin, signaling a shift in how we discuss relationship transitions. This trend of reclaiming and renaming relationship terms reflects a broader societal shift. Therapist Travis McNulty practicing in Florida explains, “There’s a big shift in renaming the terms of relationships because there’s also a huge shift towards individuality in younger generations who are no longer wanting to be defined by the standards of traditional generations.” The partnered meaning in this context is about individuals partnering with their own values and desires, rather than adhering to societal norms. This movement towards individuality empowers people to define their lives and relationships on their own terms, celebrating self-sufficiency and personal fulfillment.
