All to often people get caught up in being afraid to be alone, and this can be even more prevalent around the holidays. You know you always go to family functions and someone is bound to ask if you have a significant other or when you will get one. We have all been there (including me), so trust me when I say I get it.

When that question is posed, regardless of how composed you are on the outside, it's easy to start panicking on the inside. "What if I'm single forever!?" "They probably think I'm never going to meet anyone." "Why am I the only person struggling with this??" When you start panicking like this it can then lead to some rash decisions, such as jumping into a relationship you shouldn't be in.

NEWS FLASH! You won't be single forever, it's OK if you are now, and you most certainly shouldn't jump into an unwanted relationship. Yes, jumping into a relationship with the first person that offers you attention might seem like a good idea at the time, but I'm here to tell you that it most certainly is not a good idea.

It breaks my heart to see kind, good-hearted people settling on a guy just because they are afraid of being alone. You can preach to them about not settling, and they'll tell you that they aren't, but from the outside looking in, it's obvious. I'm going to offer up some advice, and maybe it will reach the right people.

First of all, you have to respect yourself. Respect yourself enough to know that lots of guys are gonna offer you their attention, but that doesn't mean you have to jump at the first one that does. You then need to evaluate your self-worth. You are smart, strong, independent, and so kind. Hear me when I say that you deserve the absolute best.

You don't need to settle for someone that only cares when it's convenient for them or someone that thinks they can talk down to you because you are a girl. That is NOT OK! You deserve someone that is going to treat you with respect, someone that will look at you in a crowded room and only see you, someone that would go out of their way to make sure that you are happy. You deserve to be someone's priority, not just when it's convenient for them but all the time.

I know that being single isn't always easy. Especially when others start to question when you are going to meet someone if you are ever going to get married, and so on. Sweetheart, just focus on you, and the next time someone poses the question of when you will find a significant other you can kindly reply to them and say, "Well I'm really just focusing on me right now, and life is going really good right now so someone would have to be pretty amazing to become a part of it."

Stay strong, remember your self worth, never settle, and remember everything will happen when it's meant to.