There are countless individuals in the world who influence us on a daily basis. Lucky for me, mine happens to be a loving, selfless woman who has taught me so many life lessons in just a few short years. Here are a few of them:

Love yourself first.

In this day and age, especially with social media involved, it’s difficult to be happy and feel confident. However, there’s a point in time when you have to rid yourself of the negative comments and begin the process of self growth, and Selena Gomez teaches us to do just that.

Last year, while in Mexico, Gomez was scrutinized by the media for being “overweight." Once her picture was taken, it was all over social media sites (as you can imagine). What’s more shocking? She looks stunning! After never having felt so degraded before, she decided to take the high road and empower individuals all over the world. People might ask how Selena responded to this, and truth be told, she did it in the classiest way possible. She amazed the media with a stunning picture showing off her beautiful curves in a black, one-piece bathing suit, captioning the photo, “I love being happy with me y'all #theresmoretolove."

Although it’s difficult for her to receive such harsh criticism, it’s safe to say that she handles it gracefully. After this circumstance, all she wants is for us to be proud of who we are. It might be a process, but it is extremely worth it.

Give back.

Gomez has said in countless interviews how much she loves to give back. She has been a part of a variety of causes and organizations. However, she is most commonly known for her commitment to UNICEF. Not only was she appointed to be a UNICEF Ambassador in 2009, but she has also traveled the world to locations such as Ghana and Nepal to make a difference. In addition, she has also been involved in working with WE Day, “a celebration of youth making a difference in their local and global communities."

Do what makes you happy—and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

From "Barney & Friends" and "Wizards of Waverly Place" all the way to being a part of various movies and now having recorded her newest album, Revival, it's safe to say Selena Gomez is doing exactly what she loves. The best part yet? She does it for us.

Although Selena Gomez has accomplished a lot since her start on "Barney & Friends," her fans know that only the best is yet to come. Just like her, if we pursue our own dreams, we are more than capable of making it our own reality.

Stay strong.

No matter what it is that life might throw at you, keep your head up.

In her Billboard interview in October of 2015, Selena addressed the rumors that she went to rehab in January of 2014. Although many speculated that she was there as a result of booze or drugs, that wasn't the case whatsoever. She said, "I was diagnosed with lupus, and I've been through chemotherapy. That's what my break was really about. I could've had a stroke."

When asked why she suffered the cruelty of the media's rumors, she replied, “I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy. You’re assholes.’ But I was angry I even felt the need to say that. It’s awful walking into a restaurant and having the whole room look at you, knowing what they’re saying. I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again.”

As a result of Gomez's courage, it has inspired countless fans to speak up about situations that are occurring in their daily lives, in hopes to seek help from others undergoing the same.

Put the people you love first.

One thing that many envy about Selena Gomez is her support system. First thing's first, she has an amazing family and many friends who not only help her through the toughest of times, but also celebrate one another's achievements. She and her squad are friendship goals.

Then there's her fans...

The people who wait in line for hours upon hours in anticipation to meet their idol. The people that tell her just how much it is that she means to them. She says, "I don't feel like I can do enough for my fans. I work a lot, I work hard, and I get tired. But when you walk onstage and see these people who wait hours outside just to see you, it's the greatest thing in the world." Aw, she sure does know how to make us feel special!

She continuously thanks us for our love and continues to do what she loves, for us. And for that, we are so grateful.

There's nothing like girl power.

Whether it's starring in her best friend's (Taylor Swift) music video for "Bad Blood" or casually being out with her friends for lunch, Selena is all about her girls! She is proud of her group of friends, and has even stated that she admires Taylor Swift's ability to unite women. In her November 2015 article for Flare magazine, she states, “A bunch of women I look up to and admire are supporting one another, and Taylor has such a beautiful way of bringing people together. That was good for me, because the more I started working, the more uncomfortable I was. I wouldn’t trust people, and Taylor has a way of stripping down everything and just getting down to being human. I love that."

Don't let social media define you.

Whenever she does a new interview, it seems to be that social media always comes up in the conversation. Although she has well over 75 million followers (and growing) on Instagram, Selena tries not to let it affect her life. Instead of reading into the nasty comments that are posted on her photos, she decides to use her accounts to build a closer relationship with her fan base.

Even though we are prone to receive hateful comments on social media, we should not let this stand in the way of us living our own lives. What's most important are the people around you, not the amount of "likes" you receive on your latest Instagram picture.

Heartbreak happens.

We've all been through the gut-wrenching pain of heartbreak. It's not easy, and it's most definitely not fun for anyone.Lucky for us, Selena Gomez has shared her story with the world in hopes to let others know that they are not alone.

Instead of drowning ourselves in our tears, it's better that we look at it as a learning experience. There will be people who come into our lives who are seasonal, and it's important that we learn to accept that. After all, everything happens for a reason.