My biggest goal for 2018 is learning to be more positive and focus less on the negativity. In my free time, I’ve spent a lot of energy researching new ways to look at situations differently and train myself to see the good in everything.

“Good or bad, it’s all good”

With every situation that arises in my life, my instant instinct is to react and play the victim rather than see it for what it really is. By playing the victim, which I personally never try to do, I can get the justification to ‘feel’ better, but as soon as that feeling goes away, I’m back to feeling sad all over again. Instead of focusing on the negativity, it’s important to train your brain to see everything as a lesson, a reason, and a reminder that every day is a new chance to learn. There is good in most everything, but it all depends on how you look at it.

“I just want to see if I can”

Personally, when dealing with my anxiety, I hold myself back from doing things I know I’m actually capable of doing. My new attitude for this year is simply trusting in myself and pushing myself to do MY best, as that is all I can really do. Ultimately, I don’t want to live in a “what if” world, I just want to see if I can do everything I know I’m telling myself I can’t.

“The only way out is through”

This is another one of those phrases that I have been repeating to myself in the moments when I feel like I’m drowning. I’m so afraid of failing, so afraid of the what could be, and forget that I’m capable of things I don’t give myself enough credit for. You can make it through anything you set your mind to, you just have to push yourself to the end.

By this time next year, I hope I am still incorporating these phrases into my everyday life and creating positive influences for not only myself but for anyone I come into contact with. I'm so committed to making 2018 MY year.