I'm sure almost everyone is familiar with the phrase, "new year, new me", right? You know, the thing people say at the beginning of a new year while making resolutions that they know they won't stick to for the next twelve months? Have you found yourself making these resolutions for the new year?

As each year passes, I have tried to make more realistic resolutions for the upcoming year. But until now, I have never taken a real step to complete any single one of them. This may sound cliché, but the new decade has me thinking, "What if I actually complete my goal this year?" This year, my goal is to put myself out there more often, into the world that I have viewed as loud and scary for much of my life. I have always kept to myself, afraid of what the world and people around me have to say, and now I'm ready to fully embrace it. To me, this goal of breaking free from social anxiety seems almost impossible, and it will most likely take more than this year alone to fully complete, but the idea of starting now excites me.

It's only February and I already feel very accomplished with my goal so far. Yes, there have been a few setbacks such as one minor panic attack, but overall, I feel as if I am heading in the right direction. January was a big month for my new journey. I started researching my options as to how to positively stick to my goal. I was told to explore the idea of group therapy and wasn't too fond of the idea at first because the thought of being judged scares me more than anything. After a few sessions, I realized it was nice to speak with people who have the same or similar concerns as I do. As the group sessions continued, I have began to purposefully put myself into situations that in the past I would have never thought possible. As the year continues, I hope to keep the energy and excitement alive in my mind as I strive to reach my goal. As an introvert, putting yourself out into the world can be something you'd never expect to do. Though once you start, it's kind of hard to stop when you're living on this newfound adrenaline.

Overall, if you want to try something new, you should! Take chances because you may discover a new hobby, favorite food, etc. in the process. For me, putting myself into these situations has allowed for growth not only with myself, but with others as well.