The idea of happiness and fulfilling that personal happiness is extremely important to me. I used to constantly be mad at the world. Nothing ever made me happy. My mindset hovered around the idea that we’re all going to die someday, so what’s the point? Looking back now, it makes me cringe to think I ever thought like that.

But now, my philosophy has changed. As I matured, I realized that the way I was thinking was not healthy. I slowly realized that I’m going to be around for a very long time, so do I really want to spend that time to be miserable all the time? Slowly, I started to see the good in life. I started to make changes to my thought patterns.

Today, I still know that we’re all going to die someday, but instead of thinking, "What’s the point?," I’m thinking, "I might as well make the absolute most of life while I have the chance." No one asked us if we wanted to be here; we never agreed to be alive or being able to enjoy life. But here we are, and there’s not much we can do about it, so why not just abuse it while we have it? Make it your own; make it what you want it to be.

Of course, not everything is going to go the way you planned or envisioned. The best piece of advice that I can give in times like those, or anytime really, is to look for the silver lining. That is something that I do constantly. All the time, every day. By doing that, I’ve found that the negative energy cannot get to me because I’m always looking for the positive.

For instance, I had a death in the family about 11 years ago. It shook my family to the core. Of course, we were all devastated by the loss and I’m incredibly saddened and sorry for what happened. I don’t want to take away from the devastation of it because if I could opt for the death not happening, I would, however, after my change of heart and personal thinking patterns, I had to step back and make myself see the good in this tragedy that washed over my family.

Even though I don’t wish a death upon anyone, this death brought my family closer together, especially me to the widow and her two children because I had to step in and help out where I could. I can’t predict what would have happened if the death didn’t happen, but I’m not sure I would be as close as I am to the widow and her two girls as I am today.

Of course, death is never something that should be glazed over, but my point is that without finding a silver lining in any horrible situation, I might have driven myself mad.

That’s a big example, sure, but I still find silver linings in the small stuff. For example, instead of getting angry about wasting money on a shitty movie, I try to think of it like this: at least I got to hang out with my friends or at least I got out of the house on this rainy day, or at least I know better for the next time I want to see a movie. Anything to make the bad part seem not so bad will help you become a more positive and happy person.

Lastly, do what YOU want to do. Not happy in a relationship? Leave. Not happy with your living situation? Move. Not happy with your job? Quit. Not happy with anything else? Change it. I know it’s a lot harder to do than it is to say, but any small step to make YOU a happier person is worth it. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith; but in the end, it will always work out as long as you strive to be a more positive you.