Don’t wear too much makeup. Don’t swear or be unladylike. Don’t go out in a short skirt.

Many girls and young women are consistently instructed with things they’re not meant to do.

But one mother has flipped this concept on its head with her empowering list of “don’t”s for her daughter.

Writer Toni Hammer shared an open letter to her daughter on Facebook, with the aim of boosting her daughter’s confidence and sense of self.

In a post that will resonate with women everywhere, Hammer wrote:

“Don’t apologise when someone else bumps into you.

“Don’t say ‘sorry to be such a pain.’ You’re not a pain. You’re a person with thoughts and feelings who deserves respect.

“Don’t make up reasons as to why you can’t go out with a guy you don’t wanna go out with. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. A simple ‘no thanks’ should be acceptable.”

Hammer encourages her daughter not to overthink what she eats and to eat whatever she wants.

She also tells her daughter that she should take control of her appearance.

“Don’t keep your hair long to make someone else happy.

“Don’t wear a dress if you don’t want to.”

Inspiring body positivity quotes Show all 12 1 /12 Inspiring body positivity quotes Inspiring body positivity quotes Ashley Graham "And cellulite, I have not forgotten about you. I'm going to choose to love you even though you want to take over my whole bottom half. You're a part of me and I love you." Inspiring body positivity quotes Danielle Brooks "Sometimes I don't like what I see, but I have the power to change the way in which I relate to my body both physically and mentally." Inspiring body positivity quotes Iskra Lawrence "Stop comparing yourself to anybody else. The [pictures of] movie stars, even the Disney characters, that’s not real. That’s not attainable. You can’t be anybody else. You are you. You can’t be them. So you really just have to start embracing yourself and accepting so-called flaws that society has given the name ‘flaws’. It’s just our body, our patchwork quilt.” Inspiring body positivity quotes Beyoncé "The most alluring thing a woman can have is confidence." Getty Images Inspiring body positivity quotes Kate Winslet "Nobody is perfect. I just don't believe in perfection. But I do believe in saying, 'This is who I am and look at me not being perfect.' I'm proud of that." Getty Images Inspiring body positivity quotes Rihanna "You just want something that someone else has, but that doesn't mean what you have isn't beautiful, because people always want what you have and you always want what they have - no one is ever 100 per cent like, 'Yes, I'm the bomb-dot-com - from head-to-toe!" REUTERS Inspiring body positivity quotes Tess Holliday "Never compare yourself with others and celebrate what makes you, you." Inspiring body positivity quotes Demi Lovato "Instead of looking in the mirror and focusing on your flaws, look in the mirror and appreciate your best features... everyone has them." Inspiring body positivity quotes Kim Kardashian-West "See this little dimple of cellulite here? It was so worth it for that cookies 'n' cream ice cream!" Inspiring body positivity quotes Jennifer Lawrence "It should be illegal to call someone fat." Inspiring body positivity quotes Mindy Kaling "Insults about the way I look can’t be the thing that harms me and my heart the most. It has to harm me the least. If I have a daughter, I’m going to tell her that. Far too many women are much more hurt by being called fat or ugly than they are by being called not smart, or not a leader." Rex Features Inspiring body positivity quotes Selena Gomez "I’m learning that you can be comfortable and still look beautiful.” AFP/Getty Images

And the important messages continue.

“Don’t stay home because you don’t have anyone to go out with. Take yourself out. Have experiences by yourself and for yourself.

“Don’t hold back your tears. Crying means you’re feeling something that needs to get out. It’s not a weakness. It'’ being human.

“Don’t smile because someone told you to.

“Don’t be afraid to laugh at your own jokes.

“Don’t say ‘yes’ to be polite. Say ‘no’ because it’s your life.

“Don’t hide your opinions. Speak up and speak loudly. You should be heard.”

And finally, Hammer tells her daughter not to apologise for being who she is. “Be brave and bold and beautiful. Be unapologetically you.”

The post received a huge response on Facebook, especially after being reposted by Love What Matters.

“Beautiful and so true,” commented one person.

“There’s so many things on this list that I need to be reminded of, but I totally want to print and hang this in my daughter’s room!” added another.