I want you to think about every person and every circumstance that has ever disappointed you for 10 seconds. There is no telling where your mind will take you, but we have all been there. Every person has that person or situation that left them feeling defeated, screwed over, or just downright pissed off.

Now take a minute, and I want you to appreciate those people. Yeah, you read that right - appreciate them.

Appreciate the lessons that person or situation taught you, appreciate the opportunity that person gave you to experience a new level of personal growth. Fact of the matter is, if you let that negative situation or person control you, then you are essentially giving that person control of your life. Easier said than done, but if you are that person, only focusing on the negative aspects of whatever challenge you may be facing, then who is benefiting in that scenario? Definitely not you.

The issue at hand here is simple - the issue of mentality. People forget that they actually get to choose their mentality each and every day. You are in total control of how you view the world, and how the world will view you. Now, do you view the world with an ownership mentality or an "owe me shit" mentality? So often we blame everyone but ourselves for our unwanted circumstances, but ultimately who has control over every aspect of our life? We are only forced to sleep next to one person every single night - ourselves. So if you don't respect and love yourself, how are others supposed to be expected to respect you in the slightest?

The fact of the matter is that the world does not owe you shit, so it is time to own your shit. If you embrace your weaknesses, then what can anyone say to negatively affect how you view yourself? Funny how everyone is essentially self-made, but only the successful people admit it. There is literally something positive to come out of every single negative situation you may come to face with, and only you can control how you will let that situation affect you that day.

YOU are in complete control of your life, and once you take that to heart, it is truly liberating. Let yourself experience the negative situations. If you don't, then how else will you be able to grow? So shout out to anyone who has ever disappointed you. What you do today matters, and what you did yesterday is in the past. There is no reason to dwell on anything that will no longer benefit you.

Choose to be in control of your life today, choose to be mentally tough. Choose to thank and appreciate every negative thing that you have experienced and grow from them. The world does not owe you a damn thing. Only you can write the story that is you life, and don't ever give that power away.