I realized that I have officially hit rock bottom. In the previous month, some of my worst nightmares have come true.

For the first weeks, I did the usual things you would suspect from someone at rock bottom. I gave up eating almost completely. I cried through most of the day. I could not get out of bed – some days I did not. I watched a lot of Netflix and ignored most of the responsibilities that I usually had no trouble staying on top of.

I was a mess.

But, one day, I realized the benefit of being at rock bottom. Like Florence And The Machine's song, Hurricane Drunk, "I'd like to think, at least things can't get any worse."

And Florence sings words of wisdom. Things could not get much worse, could they?

That thought turned my thinking completely upside-down. From this moment, things can only get better. Something wonderful needs to happen soon. At least, it should.

After a couple of days with the mindset, I noticed an extreme change in my mood. It may be the magical feel of the winter wonderland that has fallen upon Ithaca, NY so early in November. But, I have a strong feeling, it is the power of positive thinking that has lifted my spirits.

Thinking positively helps me to get out of the bed in the morning even when it is hard. It helps me to take care of myself (which means even though I still skip quite a few meals, I am eating more regularly). And, it helps me to continue with my responsibilities even better than I did before I hit rock bottom.

Each negative thought can be replaced with an equally positive thought. I can be completely down in the dumps about my totaled car. Or, I can be happy that I have the opportunity to pick out a new car.

The opportunity part is important. My life is full of endless opportunities and all I have to do is reach for them.

So, while this is most likely the worst period of my life, I am able to stay fairly cheery most days.

I try not only to be positive with my thinking but positive in redirecting the thoughts of others. I found that if I can reassure someone else or bring a smile to the face of one of my friends, I feel exponentially better for the rest of the day. Spreading positivity is not only great for the people around you but it is really beneficial for raising your own spirits.

This type of thinking is also important in deflecting any negativity that comes my way. I have had my fair share of discouraging setbacks in the last couple days, but they do not seem to be affecting me like they used to. One small setback does not ruin my entire day anymore.

I try to find strength in the positive things I have in my life. I find strength in my friends and the activities I am passionate about. Being president of the running club has never been more crucial for me. Surrounding myself with amazing people that are just as passionate about running as I am is a huge mood booster. I can always find something to be positive about when I think about running club.

I am also extremely lucky to live in a dorm with such a strong support group. Not only do I have an amazing roommate, but I have six other friends in close proximity that can always cheer me up.

When thinking about these positive aspects of my life, it is impossible not to feel optimistic about the future. If I was able to fill my life with so much positivity, it should not be hard to fill my mind with an equal amount of positivity.

It is easy to think about the things I have instead of thinking about the things I lack.

It is with the power of positivity that we are able to power through life, even when we are experiencing the worst parts of life.

Try replacing every negative thought with a positive thought for the next week. Look for the difference in your mood.