It’s that time of year where everyone has been trying to crack down on that list of New Year’s resolutions they set at the end of last year. The typical weight loss, habit breaking, never talking to my ex again list that is usually broken at least once or twice. According to Forbes.com, in a study done by the University of Scranton, only eight percent of people actually fulfill their resolutions. I decided to not make this list. No, I’m not knocking or judging anyone that does or New Years’ resolutions themselves. I finally realized that resolutions became a problem for me. This is because I truly never made them for me. I would create these long lists of things to “better” myself to fit in or make someone else happier with me. Through college, we experience a lot of change and growth. My change has included to be more accepting of who I am as well as recognizing the person I truly am and want to be. That person is for myself and not for anyone else. I spent years making these resolutions (and always failing them) because they were never truly for me and I never ended up satisfied. I have reached a point in my life that I am done trying to make others happy by becoming someone I will never be nor want to. I do not even know if I can truly describe what a relief it is to just be okay to live for yourself and not someone else’s perceptions of who you should be.
Want to make a resolution? Need that big change in your life? I applaud you for considering and making these decisions. My only advice is to make sure that you’re making these “resolutions” or any changes in your life for yourself. If the people around you cannot accept you for who you are, I’m going to be blunt and say that they are probably number one on your change list. As we roll into the second month of 2016, I challenge you to love yourself first. It’s okay to be you.