I am a perfectionist. There, I said it. I want things to be exactly how I picture them in my head. I'm discovering this more and more now that I've gotten engaged and have started wedding planning. (Being engaged isn't all cute Instagrams and blingy rings, although those are two perks of it.)

I'm guilty of giving up on something because I can't do it perfectly the first time, or the second time.

I'm too hard on myself, I have been for too long now.

I do have goals, lots of them, and having goals isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's a great thing to have an idea of what you want to accomplish in your life. The main thing is to be okay with not being able to accomplish all them today. Or tomorrow. Or not even next week. Goals take TIME and WORK to accomplish. Sometimes you just need to take a step back...and rest.

Accomplishing goals you have set doesn't mean to have to (or should) forget about yourself. In fact, when we are in the middle of planning and trying to get our head around how we can even begin to accomplish anything, we need to take self-care even more seriously.

Accomplishing goals doesn't mean pulling all-nighters (all the time). Being successful doesn't mean pushing away friends and family at a time where we need their support the most. It doesn't mean giving everything up and beating yourself up when one thing goes wrong.

You are fierce, strong, independent, a warrior if I ever saw one. You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to. Take some time this New Year to physically write down your goals, and ask yourself these questions:

Where do I want to be emotionally by next year? Where do I want to be physically, spiritually, financially, and mentally? Don't just write down the first thing that pops into your head, take the time to really think about it. Who you choose to be will impact everything.

Do you want to have the same job? Do you want to have traveled a specific place, to have written a specific article, song, or poem? The New Year is the very best time to take inventory of your personal desires. And you know what? Some of these things won't come to be in the New Year. And that's okay! I believe God has the perfect timing for everything. The universe has a way of figuring itself out.

Now, planning out your goals doesn't mean bad things won't happen, that you won't have some failures and learning curves. But it will help you to get back up faster than before. It will give you a silver lining. Where you can look and say, "You know what, it sucks right now. But I know it will get better."

Be strong and confident in the New Year. I believe in you. I believe in US.