It’s harder for some than it is for others. Becoming happy with yourself is a work in progress. I, myself, am still not 100 percent there, but I am happier than I was last year, last month, even yesterday. It’s hard to accept and love every little bit of yourself—I feel as if that’s the way it is for most people. But over the years I have learned that you need to love yourself because there are so many reasons to do so.

Sure you will have some ups and downs on your journey to find happiness within yourself. One day you could be feeling great and the next day you can be lacking confidence, feeling weak, hating your flaws a bit more. On these days you need to take a minute and remind yourself of all your great qualities. Realize that you should focus on the good rather than the bad. Take each day one at a time, filling your head with positivity and self-love.

You will not find this happiness overnight. It takes time. For me it took most of high school. People could give you endless compliments, but in the end it doesn’t mean much if you don’t believe them. It is possible to be your own worst enemy. You catch yourself pushing aside compliments, feeling as if people were just saying them to be nice. You don't take a compliment to be true. Looking back now, I wish I was open to compliments. I wish I knew it was okay to be happy with the person you are. Later on in high school, I slowly learned to have confidence, have fun, and live to make myself happy.

Once that spark goes off in your head, you begin working on growing as a person. You should work on loving everything about yourself—from your dimples and weight to your personality and the things you enjoy. It's important to accept who you are.

College forces you to step out of your comfort zone. In college you have to make new friends, gain new experiences, and take on new responsibilities. Sometimes you hate yourself for having nerves. However, forcing yourself to trust that things will work out leads you to happiness. After one year of college, I am the happiest I have ever been. Do I wish it could have happened sooner? Yes. But it was worth the time it took. Trust the process, great things take time.

Finding happiness within yourself changes your overall outlook on life. You learn to care less about what others think. If you're happy, that’s all that matters. You also start finding joy in the little, everyday things. You become spontaneous. You stop overthinking everything in your head and start living.

What I’m trying to say is, if you are struggling to be happy with yourself right now, take small steps. I know it's easier said than done. Train yourself to appreciate the things about yourself that you usually despise. Love your flaws. Your flaws are what make you, you. They make you unique and original. Be proud of the person you are.