The clock strikes midnight and everyone cheers! The discussions turn to New Year's resolutions. People talk about what they want to change in their lives and what went wrong in 2017. I have done this every year for as long as I can remember. I would say what I wanted to change. Most of the time, it never happened. Although, I would set a small goal that I knew was easy to accomplish. It always made me feel like I accomplished my "New Year's goal". But, let this be the year that you are good to yourself. Let this be the year where you put yourself first.

Let this be the year that you love yourself first.

This is the year where you need to make yourself a priority. No, it is not selfish. It just means that you know where the problem is. By making yourself a priority, then you are bettering yourself as a person. That better person will attract wonderful friendships and career opportunities. Putting yourself first and making yourself a priority allows you to grow as a person.

Setting a New Year's resolution will not change your life nor will it guarantee happiness. But, if you put focus on yourself, you will be able to see the change. I started working on putting myself first in 2017 and I plan on continuing to do so in 2018.

One of the stereotypical New Year's resolutions is to go to the gym and lose weight. Make a lifestyle change in 2018 and work on improving your health. Do not set a standard for losing a certain amount of weight. Rather look for the visible change in your body and how you feel.

When I started to go to the gym, the scale did not show change. But I felt better and that is what matters. I would be able to run longer and faster, and I was not always tired. Drink more water! It is a simple step but makes it a lifestyle change. Incorporate drinking water into your daily routine. Switch out the cup of coffee in the morning with water. Rather than getting an energy drink, try drinking tea.

Stay away from negative people.

We live in the real world and no one is happy all the time. But, if you have that friend who always brings you down and cannot support you. Then make the decision to put your happiness first and end the friendship. It may be hard but it will better you in the future. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be a better person.

People whose accomplishments make you proud to be their friend and push you to work harder. Be the friend who is there during the good times and the bad times. Be the friend who is there for parties and lunch plans. But, still be the friend who is there when they are down and need to cry. Treat people the way you would want to be treated in that situation.

Make decisions that terrify you. Those are usually the ones that make the most impact in your life. We will not always succeed, but you will never know until you try. The most important thing is that at the end of the day, you like the person looking back at you in the mirror; that you are okay sitting alone in your thoughts. Be comfortable being alone and do not feel like you ever need someone. If you love yourself then you are setting an example for how others should love you.