We’ve all been there before — helplessly floundering about in our daily lives while everyone else seems to have it together. It’s awful when it feels like you’re the only one hanging by a thread, but what if everything was just a matter of perception? Here are several realizations to help you keep your sanity as you put yourself back together, piece by piece:

Be grateful — it could be worse.

Whatever you’re going through, you probably haven’t hit rock bottom yet (and you if have I’m terribly sorry for making assumptions, but listen up anyway). If you only dwell on the negative aspects of your life, you’ll be hard pressed to climb out of a bad bood. What’s going well in your life? What have you still managed to hold onto? What made you smile today? Think about these things instead.

Life is not a competition.

You see that person over there? The one with the great outfit, awesome friends, a detailed life plan and all of the free time in the world? Forget about them. That person isn’t you and will never be you. Don’t base your decisions and beliefs on those of others. Do what feels right for you, even if it means sleeping like the dead on the weekends or skipping a fun event to do something else. Your own choices make you authentic.

It’s okay to make mistakes.

Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." It’s ideal to mess up every once in awhile because you learn by growing and doing, not by living in fear of not being perfect. Go out on a limb and stop dwelling on your past shortcomings — in spite of what you did wrong, you’ll come back even stronger next time.

Breaking the rules is encouraged.

Who says you have to follow all social norms? Society doesn’t own you. Be your own boss and defy conventions. Maybe you have a different learning style, or you work in short bursts of energy instead of bogging down at a desk like everyone else. Or perhaps you just want something different out of life. Whatever it is, know that it's okay not to conform to a certain mold. Be who you want to be.

You have to love yourself.

Above all else, know that you’re one of a kind, flaws and all. No one else can ever mimic your magnificence, so just keep swimming, you adorable, perfectly imperfect work of art. Just keep swimming.