Your roommate eats your food. You get a C on a test. The person you’re talking to doesn’t text you back. So what do you do? Naturally, you stress about it. As humans, we have a tendency to stress about things that realistically won’t matter years, weeks, or even days from now. We fixate on little things such as grades, arguments, and physical appearance, and we exhaust ourselves over these things until we make ourselves overly upset, anxious, or sad, just because it’s simply human nature. I’m here to tell you, however, that although it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life’s low points, that life is too short to obsess over things that don’t work out in your favor.

You may be upset that your roommate ate your food or that somebody didn’t text you back, but before you blow up or fixate on the things that are bothering you, remind yourself that there are so many good things to be thankful for in your life. You may think that a C on a test is the end of the world and in the moment it can especially seem like it, but in the end, it really and truly will not matter. When you look back on your life and reflect on the years that have passed, you won’t remember the people that didn’t text you back or an argument about who touched your food, you will remember the people that continuously made you smile, and the moments that made you laugh so hard your face hurt.

You can’t always control the good and the bad things that come your way, but what you can control is how you react to them. That is why although it’s tempting to get caught up in small issues and obsess over the people and things that have upset you, you have to remind yourself that eventually none of these negative things will matter in the end. It is your choice if you want to fixate on the negatives or embrace the positives, but I am here to remind you that no matter how cloudy the skies or how dreary the day, that life will continue to provide you with highs and lows, and you have the ability to take the negatives and turn them into positives.

Life is too short to settle for things that don’t make you smile uncontrollably and fill you with joy. If you’re not happy with your job, look for a new one. If you’re unhappy in a relationship, end it. If you want to see the world, buy a plane ticket. Don’t settle for anything less than what makes you happy and what you deserve. Take action and work your butt off every day to get where you want to be and work to truly embrace life’s positives, no matter how small. Before you go to bed every night write down three things that made you happy or made you smile that day, because although it may not always seem like it,

there is always something to smile about, and life is too short to stress over what you can’t control and what doesn’t go your way.