This world we live in can seem so dark, sometimes it feels like the sun will never break through the storms. It can be hard to get to sleep or hard to get out of bed as a result of the incessant thoughts of what's wrong or the lack of wanting to power through another day. The negativity can be overwhelming, and it will try drowning us. If we let it, we'll sink under. If we fight against it, we'll fight to reach the fresh air, knowing the sun will be there to shine down on us.

We cannot forget about happiness. Everywhere you look, you can find bad things, bad people, and bad feelings. They wear on you. They'll try to keep you down, and they'll usually succeed. They're powerful. But, I'm learning that happiness can be even more powerful. It's harder to find, but when we find what makes us happy, we need to grasp onto it.

I recently made a list of ten things that make me happy, which I highly recommend for everyone to do. It was eye-opening, and also incredibly challenging. It contained simple things, like Christmas lights, and more complicated things, like being around people who make me feel alive, wanted, and loved. Then, I looked at that list and figured out what to do to make these happinesses of mine shine through the darkness in my life.

Whatever makes you happy, do it as much as possible. Surround yourself with people who make you feel warm. Find new things, be spontaneous, open your mind to new experiences. If those don't make you happy, then do what you know you love.

There's no tips, tricks, or easy fixes. If you're not happy, do something to make yourself happy, even if it's for five minutes. Then, stretch that time to make it last longer and longer, happening more and more often.

Life is about optimizing happiness and minimizing negativity. Many bad things are beyond our control, but happiness is in our hands.

I'm still trying to get the hang of this whole "create your own happiness" thing, but I'm working on it, which is all anyone can do. Now, go out and do something that excites you or be with someone who makes you glow!

I'm going to leave you with a gif of Zac Efron from High School Musical 3. Why? Because it makes me happy.