I don't see anything wrong with that though

^Well, it's selfish and making decisions based on your feelings, not logic or doing what's right. I think most people who romanticize the phrase don't actually understand what it means. They probably think it just sounds cool. =P
I couldn't decide between that, being independent (it's always used to mean "[random DP] is too good to accept a man's help. She doesn't need any help cuz she's superior to everyone!") and being adventurous or a free spirit. They're fine but people just overemphasize them is all.

I completely agree with AudreyFreak about her 'following your heart' explanation!

Following your heart doesn't necessarily mean that one is selfish....Mulan does it too, and she is everything but selfish, Rapunzel does it, but she does it because of the right reasons and Tiana mostly ends up in trouble because for once she doesn't do what her heart tells her is right and instead tried to take the easy way out...
I think being sassy is overrated, because when it comes down to it, it's just a nicer word for being a rude braggart. I take a character who manages to be diplomatic any day over one who is sassy.

what is so great about taking chatge, snow white does it and people call it taking over the dwarves house but if Ariel, Tiana, Mulan, etc do it they are strong, capable smart women?
sometimes waiting is the smartest thing!
i also agree about following your heart, But I never actually thought of it that way. also Mulan isnt selfish exactly but you could say wanting her dad to stay around for herself was (no I'm not really calling her selfish or bad I'm just saying you could look at it that way) and running away was also a foolish thing to do. Rapunzel is wonderful but did a lot of foolish things that would never work out irl (I know it's just a movie but you get what I mean lol) and just because she wants to see some lights.

I agree about sassy (I also hate the word spunk for the same reason!).

About selfishness, I mean it's following YOUR heart, YOUR feelings, what YOU want. It's all about the self, no one else. Sometimes following your heart even means putting your own best interests aside in favor of doing whatever you feel like. Plus, it's usually an excuse to do something bad. You might "feel" like the guy you like belongs with you but taking him from his current girlfriend/crush is wrong. But you could justify it by saying "But I was just following my heart! And my heart told me we belong together! I feel in my heart that he doesn't love her like he would me!" or something. Rapunzel didn't have any good excuse imo. She wasn't trying to escape a bad home life, as GGP said, she only wanted to see the floating lanterns which is not a very good reason to defy your mom (who Rapunzel completely loved trusted as an authority figure). I don't blame her at all for not wishing to be cooped up but that one part bugs me. As for Mulan, I don't remember her doing anything like that. The song goes "You must be true to your heart" not "You must follow your heart". Pocahontas follows it too but since this is Disney, of course it all magically works out for the better.

But what do you mean by Tiana trying to take the easy way out? I think everything she did was difficult. it was only when she did what Mama Odie said that stuff became easier.

^^AudreyFreak: I totally agree with you. It's just fortunate the DP's "hearts" are good so that when they follow their hearts, everything turns out well. I agree with you about Rapunzel. She defies her "mother" (she doesn't know Gothel is evil; she thinks it's her real mother) just to see the lanterns and goes with a strange man (again luckily he is good).

I also agree with Swanpride about being sassy. I prefer polite princesses. I don't say you can't speak your own mind, but you can do it nicely.

I agree with AudreyFreak. Also being adventurous, being elegant, sassy and having ambition.

sassiness is wildly overrated.
probably because it tends to spill over into gratuitous bitchiness. give me a character who can speak truth to power while still being kind over these types any day tbh. also it's often lazy strong female character posturing - the snarkers are more likely to be seen as taking no shit than more mild-mannered heroines - just for being sassy, when there's no special value in it.