By Kizzy Kittrell Dogan

Did you know that it can take anywhere from 18 – 254 days to form a habit? However, it takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become second nature. Scary fact considering that there are only 10 days left in 2020! This explains why we often start the year with such vigor, and by day 45, the fire starts to burn out. However, this year, we are not focusing on New Year resolutions that don’t stick; instead, we will focus on working hard daily at becoming the very best version of ourselves. As a teen, becoming the best version of yourself may sound like a massive goal because it is but with just the right amount of intention, consistency, dedication, commitment, honesty, bravery, willpower, determination, planning, prayer, and sacrifice, it can and will happen!

With only 10 days left in 2020, it means there is no time to waste! Now is the time to change our old ways of thinking and doing to prepare for a better version of ourselves in the coming year! Yes, it’s so cliché; however, as we all know, 2020 was so destructive and brought so much death and devastation to the world as we knew it. Many did not make it, and some of us developed bad habits along the way but thank God for second chances because we now have an opportunity to dust our shoulders off and start anew! We can create new patterns and practices with the time we have and continue to cultivate in 2021 to ensure the best version reigns in 2022.

When working on becoming the best version of ourselves, I suggest incorporating The Law of Attraction and The Law of Vibration into your daily routine. Have you ever heard the saying, “You are what you eat” or “You are the company you keep” or maybe even, “If you believe it, you can achieve it?” These sayings are directly related to both Laws of Attraction and Vibration. The Law of Attraction is the ability to attract into our lives whatever we focus on thoroughly, and The Law of Vibration decrees that everything moves and nothing rests, not even a corpse in a coffin.It also suggests that we are all operating at a specific frequency, and we can regulate our frequency by controlling our thoughts and how we respond to situations.

Think about it like this: if you are in a case where you find yourself surrounded by negative energy, do you give into the room’s flow, OR do you do something to try and raise the room’s vibrations? You always have a choice in the matter, and while it is widely known that it is easier to tear something down than to build something up, it is not impossible. Always check your vibrations! Vibrations tell us that we are not bound to any state of being, but rather, in constant flux. Therefore, whenever you make a mistake, you should NEVER accuse yourself of being a failure; instead, acknowledge that you made a mistake and commit to learning and growing from it. The way you speak to yourself matters.

Before we dive off the board into the deep end, let’s daydream for a bit. One year from today, how do you envision your life? What is the ideal situation that you hope to attract? Perhaps it’s weight loss (oh wait, that’s my obsession), earning money for a particular item, starting a blog, raising your grade point average, volunteering more, joining a club, or maybe even starting a movement.  Whatever your ideal is, it can’t happen if we can’t think or imagine it first. After you’ve finished daydreaming about your ideal life, you must write it out, then plan and prepare for it by doing the work AND being a good steward of your thoughts. Remember, a vision without a plan of action is merely a wish or dream but not a goal, and what you think will eventually become your reality. As much as you can, think positively and don’t get discouraged when things don’t necessarily happen on your timeline; keep at it and focus on your end goal.

Becoming our best selves is no easy task, but if we stay on course and remember our “why,” the possibilities are endless and life-changing.  I can assure you, even amid disappointments and the most challenging times, your noticeable progression will keep you excited and on target to pull off becoming the best version of yourself.

Let’s not waste any more time talking; it’s officially “go time.” I encourage you to jot down these few practical tips I have learned along the way and use them in your quest to develop into the best version of yourself. In addition to writing out your goals, I encourage you to find a community that will support your development. Remember to surround yourself with people that are also committed to personal growth because iron sharpens iron. When your trusted circle sees you falling off, they will hold you accountable, which will be crucial on your journey. Those of you that are more visual may prove invaluable for you to dedicate time to vision boarding. Vision Boarding is a practice that allows you to lay pictures and letters out in plain view so that every day you’ll have a reminder of what you’re working to bring to fruition. If you genuinely believe in Vibration and Attraction Laws, you know that everything you want also wants you. I sincerely hope you’ll utilize these tips to become the best version of you in 2021 and beyond.

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Kizzy Kittrell Dogan is the author of Thirteen: Lessons for Every Teen Girl’s Journey to Womanhood, The Chief Executive Officer of T&G Commercial Cleaning, LLC, the Founder of Love Circle Inc, a 501c3 nonprofit organization geared for boys and girls who lost a parent before adulthood, and a certified Event Planner.​  Kizzy proudly sits on the St. Margaret’s Achievers Toastmasters International Executive Board and volunteers with the Youth Leadership Program. She is an advocate for second chances, a philanthropist, conference and seminar enthusiast, and is extremely passionate about inspiring, motivating, and fostering the best qualities in everyone.