There are two people in this world: those who love themselves so much it is obnoxious, and those who have a positive love with their mind, body, and spirit. Those with the positive relationship with themselves have this unstoppable glow about them that is almost contagious. With loving yourself comes confidence, and confidence makes you a force to be reckoned with.
Tackling a New Year's resolution is a marathon, not a sprint, meaning you just have to take it one month at a time. Setting small goals for each month will insure that by the time the ball drops to end this year, you will have confidence in yourself and what the new year has to offer you.
January.
The first month of the new year, the blank slate. This is the hump that you need to conquer as far as resolutions go. If you can survive January, you can make it. This month is all about getting into the mindset for a change. Pay attention to your surroundings, and who you surround yourself with. January is the month that you start to notice yourself, how you act, and how you feel.
February.
February is known as the month of love. Use this time to focus on the qualities you love about yourself. It could be anything from your appearance to your attitude, find your best quality and strengthen it.
March.
Unfortunately, we all doubt and worry about something. This month’s goal is to worry less and take everything with a grain of salt. Not everything deserves a reaction. Worrying holds you back from trying new things and being spontaneous. Instead of worrying about the outcome, live in the present and take some chances; you'll be thankful later.
April.
Spring cleaning! Everyone has clutter in their lives. Some consider their clutter to be people; for others it is materialistic things. This month is the month that you need to clean out all of the negative energy in your life. If your friends are Debbie Downers, kick them to the curb – you can do better!
If you have a pair of jeans that you can only wear 20 pounds ago, and they are in your closet still mocking you, trash them. You are working to becoming a better you, but you do not need to do it on negative terms. Think of April as your cleansing month – out with old, in with new.
May.
Summer is so close you can taste it. When you finish your last final you are completely free. The time you used writing papers, studying and procrastinating is now wide open. Now, you can use this time to find a hobby or a passion that you enjoy for yourself, not something you are doing to impress someone. Remember this is all for you, no one else. Find something that you look forward to doing and makes you happy.
June.
Summer has officially begun. Time to unplug and unwind. And by unplug I mean disconnect yourself from social media. Nothing is less attractive then the daily poster. Also, if you post a picture to any social media platform do not go back and look at how many likes, comments, or retweets you received – that is desperate. Also, who cares? The world is a beautiful to look at, but not through the camera lens on your iPhone.
July.
Summer is winding down, but you have time for one last bang. Use July to accomplish some short term goals. For instance, going to a yoga class, running a 5K without stopping, or sticking to a budget. Complete one goal and then keep going. There isn't a more rewarding feeling than accomplishing a goal and knowing you tried your hardest.
August.
School is back in session. So that means you are going to run into those judgmental girls that you avoided all summer. This is the time that can either make or break your resolution. Not caring about what other’s think is a major key to being able to fully love yourself and all of your flaws without hesitation. You are great just the way you are and if some judgmental girls want to argue, who are they to say that you are otherwise?
September.
We all have that one thing on our bucket list that we put on there just for fun that we are going to put on the back burner. For instance, skinny dipping, bungee jumping, or getting a tattoo. What is stopping you from doing it now? Why put it on the back burner? The goal of this month is to do the one thing that you never thought you would do. The satisfaction after it is over will motivate you to do anything.
October.
There is nothing more impressive than someone who is educated, and I do not just mean a college graduate. I mean someone that can walk the walk and talk the talk. Our generation is so worried about having the next big trend that they do not even understand what is going on in our world today. Instead of sitting down and getting on Instagram or playing a video game, read a book or watch the news.
That way the next time someone starts talking about what is happening in the upcoming election you don't sound like you learned all of your information from your friend who is a political science major. If you do the research and learn about it on your terms and in your own way you can form honest opinions. Not only will you learn a lot this month academically, but you can learn a lot about yourself.
November.
It is ok to not have something going on every night. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is spend a night at home in your PJs curled up and watching reality television. This is sometimes the best thing you can do, and the most rewarding.
December.
The year is slowly coming to a close and if each month went as planned, you should have no problem going solo to your holiday parties. However, the major challenge isn't showing up alone, it is the topic of conversation. The conversations tend to turn the corner and become gossiping very quickly. Instead of talking about others, talk about what you accomplished this year and ask others about their achievements. Do not brag about yourself, you can love yourself – but no need to be obnoxious about it.
The year of loving yourself, despite your flaws, and also tidying up your life so it is easier to love, is a major undertaking. Everyone should be able to say they are comfortable with who they are, but many are not. The goal of loving yourself is to gain confidence, almost as much as Beyonce. Making this year about yourself is the resolution that can benefit you for years to come.
