Although Justin Bieber meant for "go and love yourself" to have way more of a negative connotation, I am taking it as some grand advice to take some time and a step back from this chaotic, spirit-crushing world and fall completely and totally in love with myself. People say how important it is to keep up with your overall health, but this is probably one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Life is miserable being someone you do not love, or possibly even like. But trust me, it happens more than expected.

Growing up, no one knows who they are, let alone who they want to be. Having ideas of getting to be that person is one thing, but working to be the person you would love to love is a lot easier said than done. There are so many distractions and outside factors that can influence how a person thinks and acts. I mean, how many different people did you try to be like in middle school in order to win over some new friends? You hated that totally mainstream song, but the popular kid loved it so you sang along to every word. Things like this will happen throughout your life. But instead of losing yourself in a person you are not totally content with, learn from that feeling, and start loving the person who does bring you complete happiness.

I am 20 years old and I am just now completely falling in love with the person I am. I was never one who tried to be like the others in high school. I made my few close friends based on my true likes and dislikes and never felt the need to impress any more than those people. I did not feel like I needed anyone in my life whom I could not be myself around, and that is one thing I loved about myself, and love even now. However, I did feel myself change a little when I started dating a boy during junior year. I did not change myself completely for him, I still loved my rock music while he loved his old country. But I convinced myself I could live without things I once thought were important in a relationship. I did not think that the simple decision that at first showed no harm could eventually cause so much damage.

The damage showed very much later when we had been dating for a while. Since I was not honest with myself, I was not honest with him.Getting aggravated at the little things (that I allowed to happen) turned me into this uptight, nagging girlfriend. Definitely not a person I saw myself being. The girl that was once a go-with-the-flow kind of gal was gone and in return, came a control freak who always needed a plan. It wasn’t until after we broke up that I realized all the things I was being that I did not like. I wanted to find that happy girl who could find something to smile about in any situation.That girl who could handle the unknown. I wanted to be the person I used to love. Now that I have had time on my own, I can confidently say I am once again being the person I can love.

We all have different characteristics and different qualities we each would admire about ourselves, my challenge to you is to find yours and love them! Stop surrounding yourself with people who bring out your worst qualities and focus on those who reveal the best. Take some time to yourself doing things you love and the rest will follow. The only person’s opinion about yourself that actually matters is your own. Go love yourself!