When I think of 2016 one word comes to mind: Struggle. Yes, 2016 has been one hell of year.

The negativity of the world in general has become almost too hard to bear- between seemingly endless wars, a very rocky presidential election, growing injustices amongst our communities, the list seems endless. The negativity surrounding everyone seems all consuming at times; it's on the news, it's on our social media, it's what we hear on a daily basis.

On a personal level, keeping a positive mindset has become even more of a battle. I mean how are you even suppose to balance everything?

Having a social life but not too much of one so you can keep up grades you can be happy with. Making time to study and for endless amounts of homework while trying to schedule time to sleep and eat. Making time to eat but resorting to cheap and easy meals because let's face it- food is expensive. Realizing you've been eating garbage, so making sure to hit the gym before you gain a few and your Instagram pictures- sigh, just don't measure up. Because God forbid the girl or guy, who is probably playing you anyways cause they don't love themselves either- loses interest.

Hmm, maybe it's more than just an issue of perfecting a balancing act but an issue of a lack of self-love that seemed to spark a lot of hardships for many of us in 2016?

'Self-Love,' no doubt may sound gimmicky, especially if you're just another cynical and jaded millennial. No 'Self-Love' isn't some mystical obscure concept only made available to Buddhists and 'New Age' wannabe hippies. It also isn't easy. You can't just wake up one morning, look yourself in the mirror and say 'I love myself,' and expect all your secret insecurities and anxieties be healed like a magic act.

As a self-proclaimed cynic and jaded millennial, I know it's a struggle and perhaps it took a year long difficult journey to not only realize 'Self-Love' is possible but also the only way to finding genuine and lasting happiness and here are some ways how you can make 2017 your year of learning how to really self-love.

Limit Time on Social Media

Admit it, if you really think about it, you probably spend way too much time on social media.

Casually scrolling newsfeeds and timelines seems harmless enough, but imagine how much freer you'd feel if you devoted some time away from it.

Granted, It's a wonderful and gratifying feeling when your crush likes your Instagram selfie but it's also a slight dig to your ego when he also likes that girl you don't really like in your sorority's selfie too. Or when you send him a snapchat, which you spent 5 times re-taking, and is left... *gasp* on open. Now for a half-hour, you're kinda annoyed, feeling ignored and scrolling through that girl's Instagram feed worried maybe he's snap-chatting her instead.

Ah, the negative nuances of social media is much more than the outdated argument of creating an anti-social and self-absorbed, vain and whiny generation. It's more than that... it's just creating a lot of clutter and a lot of un-needed noise. It's fun. No doubt engaging and an obvious way to share your life so-to-speak and connect with people but if you find yourself obsessing, it's time to put the phone down.

Whether obsessing over what a romantic interest is doing, how much 'fun' other people seem to be having, etc., rampant social media usage is such an easy way to add much un-needed stress and anxiety in your life. Put it down, take a breath. Post things about your day or a picture of yourself because you want to do it for yourself, not to validate your self-worth with the amount of likes you get or a reply on a Snapchat sent.

Social Media is meant to be used as an outlet to create and to connect. That's it. It's virtual reality- again, virtual. Put it down, take a walk, and know that if you're using social media as a means to make yourself feel better or validate a relationship, it's time to come back to reality, actual reality.

Meditate- It's Not Just for Hippies and Buddhists

Meditate. it's not sitting cross-legged, lighting incense that kind of makes you light-headed, and reciting Buddhist mantras to yourself over and over again.

I mean, it can be, but it's really as simple as sitting down, listening to quiet music, and looking out the window on a rainy day- thinking of nothing at all but the sound of your breathing.

Imagine thinking of nothing at all, and being completely calm and devoid of all stress for 15 minutes. Might seem strange and even awkward at first, but it's worth it. The health benefits we all know about but if you're a skeptic or really need some evidence on how crucial making time to meditate is for your physical and mental health, click here.

If you're not used to meditating or have tried but couldn't really get into it fear not. There's loads of powerful and positive information out there and great references on YouTube. Don't knock it till you try it, you might be surprised of the profound effect it has.

Eat Healthy- But Don't Be Ashamed of Treating Yourself Either

I hate the saying, "You are what you eat," but it's hard to garner a positive mindset of feeling good about yourself if you aren't treating your body with respect.

When it comes to eating right, stay away from the mindset that in eating healthy you'll look better, and looking better is what you want. It's not a problem wanting to look good but with food, it's just too easy to fall into a negative mindset with it if you're main and sole goal is to look attractive.

Instead, make the goal to feel good not just look it. Cook a wholesome and healthy meal because you enjoyed taking the time to make it because it will make your body and mind strong. With such a fast paced life, with so many other obligations and stress, making time to eat good, hell making time to eat a meal at all is no doubt daunting- but possible, and important.

That being said, don't be ashamed or make yourself feel bad for pigging out once and while, or more than once in a while... it's all about balance. Find yours.

Here are some healthy and easy to make recipes, enjoy!

Be Mindful of Your Words and Actions- Spread Kindness

We've been indoctrinated since we were children to be 'nice' and 'kind,' from sharing toys at playtime to not giving into the mean words of a playground bully.

It goes without saying, spreading positivity is the way to go but let's face it: it gets pretty damn hard at times. It's all but too easy to lose ourselves in the chaos of everyday life with it's tedious and stressful responsibilities that some things we forget, or maybe not fully realize, the power of positivity and kindness.

Cheesy...sure, but even the most jaded cynic can't deny the warm feeling of making someone's day and the feeling of when a small act of kindness is genuinely appreciated and reciprocated.

A simple and genuine, "Hey, how are you?" to a couple of familiar faces down the hallway, instead of avoiding eye-contact for dear life as you're mindlessly staring at the backlit screen of your phone, can make all the difference.

Despite what you may be struggling with, the fact is pretty much every sentient being is also struggling. Making greater efforts in spreading a little light and kindness can make the struggle a little easier, for yourself and others. If you want to be a better person in 2017, find ways to actively be mindful of how positive and kind you are with people and watch how much more positive your own life becomes.

Write It Down

Bottling up emotions seems to be the common trend these days.

This practice of wiping away any smudge of uncomfortable emotion seems to be unintentional often we question- do we really have time to divulge in our emotions, especially the uncomfortable ones? Isn’t it easier and just more time-efficient to go throughout our days as perfectly emotionally aloof as possible?

Probably not. This is why, as humans, we feel things, we’re sensitive, things affect us. Sometimes we just don’t how to handle these feelings, most notably the negative ones.

Keeping a journal may be something you want to keep in mind in 2017. No need for poetic prose or long, overdrawn narrations of your day. Just scribbling down something that moved you or the writing about the negative feelings of an argument can really work wonders, for even the most jaded and indifferent cynic.

Because sometimes, you just need to get it out and writing is obviously a healthy way of doing it, all the while boosting your emotional intelligence and putting things in perspective.

Make Time For Doing Things You Love

This should be a no-brainer but, it’s unfortunately, a lot easier said that then done.

Considering the fast pace and stress of everyday living, forgetting about our hobbies and the things we simply enjoy doing occurs more often than we think.

Our hobbies are just one of the ways we freely define ourselves and our personalities. It’s how we unwind, relax, and foster the parts of us that the obligations of everyday life don’t permit.

The assumption is that we just don’t have the time or worse, we make ourselves feel guilty for making time for our hobbies!

A key concept you should take in 2017? Balance. Balance is the key to everything after all, and balancing our hobbies with school, work, and a social life may seem daunting but the reality is that making time for our hobbies is so crucial for self-life.

As healthy forms of de-stressors and creative sparks, making more time for our hobbies is so important, besides in helps us learn to own our uniqueness and being proud of it!

Stop Freaking Out About Your Love Life

For a lot of us, 2016 put us through the ringer when it comes to relationship issues and heartbreak.

In truth, any chaos or let-downs were meant to serve one important purpose, that as cliché the saying is: the relationship you have with yourself sets the tone for all of your relationships.

Our generation puts a lot of value on ‘the chase,’ which lends itself to a lot of unnecessary nuances to romance we feel forced into following.

Wanting to talk to someone but not wanting to seem clingy, constantly wondering how they’re feeling while they’re thinking about how you feel about them because the gag is: neither of you feel comfortable being emotionally vulnerable.

Or perhaps you were invested in someone who was playing you all along because they don’t love themselves either. Heartbreak, setbacks, disappointments, misguided assumptions; may all have contributed to your 2016.

It may have been messy and exhausting but it all served a higher purpose. Believe it or not, nothing is the end of the world, even though it may feel like it at times. Heartbreak, for even the most seemingly cool, calm and collected person, can wreak havoc on someone’s very self-esteem and confidence.

The truth is: the idea of needing someone to fulfill you or will give you that comfort and validation you’re seeking is destructive thinking. People will be drawn to you based on the energy you put out, something that you can only cultivate independently.

Besides, we need heartbreak to put into perspective and fine tune what our concept of a relationship should be. It takes heartbreak to re-align and re-asses the parts of ourselves and our values that we shouldn’t forget about, just in hopes of having someone stick around.

Self-love, is the building blocks of any relationship and without it, none of our relationships can grow. It takes courage, strength, and above all, dedication that no one else but YOU can make that a reality.

In 2017, just breathe. Remember that at end of the day of course if something is meant to be it will. However, you can’t control or change others, you can only live your own life and your own truth.

Perhaps, I’m an optimist or just (secretly) a hopeless romantic but I know that trying to desperately control someone or any outcome ends up just damaging any potential positives and adds extra stress and anxiety for no reason.

If single and if you felt a lot of intense emotions in 2016, the positive and the negative ones, take the time to get really, really honest with yourself. Realize that without any heartbreak and bruised egos, lessons wouldn’t have been learned and growth wouldn’t have been achieved.

Take the lessons of 2016 into 2017, work on yourself for yourself. Cultivate the ideal partner you sought after within you. This is how you self-love; this is how you heal. In concentrating on loving yourself, who knows what positive and loving surprises may be coming your way this year.

Cut Out Toxic People In Your Life- Unapologetically

2016 was seriously a year of putting things in perspective, even if it was painful at times.

Which leads me to my next sentiment- It’s time to do a little personal housekeeping and take out the trash and by trash, I mean the negative people that no longer serve you and your highest good.

Negative situations and people seemed to have run amok in many lives in 2016. All relationships, platonic or romantic, take a certain amount of work and effort to keep long-lasting. However, if a relationship is causing you constant emotional and mental stress, it’s time to let go.

Realizing someone close to you all of a sudden negativity changed or even worse, seeing someone’s true colors a lot darker than you previously saw, may have all played a role in your life this year.

Wounds may have cut deep and are still in the healing process but keep in mind it led you to this moment: What will you value in your relationships with people in 2017 and what are the things that you will no longer tolerate because it doesn’t correlate with self-love?

You can’t change people and you definitely cannot change the past. Life continues to flux and flow, our resistance to necessary changes just ends up hurting ourselves more in the end.

In 2017, make an effort, to be honest with yourself and have the courage and determination to rid yourself of people or situations that no longer serve you and don’t correlate with a mindset rooted in self-love.

Cutting loose of the familiar and letting go is hard but 2017 is a new year, fresh with new energy and potential for change. Go forth in confidence and don’t settle for anything less than you know you deserve.

Seek Help- Rid Yourself Of Self-Destructive Habits, Mindsets and Behaviors

Everyone is going through some kind of struggle. Everyone is going through a secret battle most don’t know, not even to their close friends.

It seems trivial to even talk about. Its 2016, hell... who doesn’t have some sort of anxiety or depression or is low-key an alcoholic, etc. *yawn*

There just ugly, inconvenient truths we all are dealing with right? or maybe ignoring…? or maybe coping with in unhealthy ways? Because at least whiskey won’t judge you nor will the meal you skip or another pill tipped.

Not everyone needs therapy or counseling, sometimes we just need someone to talk to but what if there’s no one around you can really trust with your secret woes? and even with talking things out…be honest, are you feeling any better? It's okay to not be okay.

It’s tricky, messy and almost impossible seeming to not only recognize negative and damaging habits, behaviors, and mindsets let alone face them head on with optimism and pure intentions for change.

A new year begets a new opportunity for growth and a clean slate but it doesn’t just happen by magic.

In 2017, be honest with yourself. In 2017, take your mental health seriously and make it a top priority. It’s not selfish, it is necessary.

Work on the aspects of yourself or your behaviors that you know are damaging to some extent. More importantly, take courage in working towards a healthier you.

Finally, Quit Knocking Yourself Down

2016 has been a whirlwind, it has been a battle, it has been a shock, it has been life changing.

The struggles, the heartbreak, the let-downs and disappointments has led you to here: A new year, with new opportunities and new possibilities. The struggles have served two purposes: to realize and appreciate the blessings we have and secondly, to make us stronger and put in perspective what we need to do in order to grow and foster our own self-love.

Take the lessons of 2016 and bring them with you in 2017. With all the hardships and negativity, knocking yourself down seems to just come naturally… However, in hindsight, time consuming and not conducive to self-love.

It starts with realizing you are deserving of love, it starts with forgiveness and letting go of the past and the pain attributed to it. It takes healing, it takes time, but it can and will happen if you put forth the positive energy towards it.

In 2017, let us use any pain dealt with in 2016 to not define us but motivate us to become better people, to become the people we want and need to be.

Let the struggles overcome in 2016 lay the foundation to learning how to love yourself fully and truly in 2017.