As we get older, we make more memories, new friends, new thoughts, and form new views on, well, life. While all of these new things are being created, it’s so easy to get caught up in “what could’ve been,” but what’s more important than what could’ve been is what is.

A belief I strongly live by is the idea of what is what’s meant to be, will be. Because of this belief, any time I find myself living in the past, or wondering how alternate situations may have affected my life, I try to reflect and remember that if it’s meant to be, it will happen.

With every person you meet and every experience you have, it’s so easy to wonder why someone came into your life or left your life, to wonder how your life would be different if you didn’t meet that person, if they didn’t exit your life; what would’ve happened if a certain situation didn’t happen or occurred differently. In these instances, you just have to remember that every experience helps shape the person you are today.

Despite how much you may wish something didn’t happen to you, something did happen to you, or how much you wish someone stayed in your life, you can’t linger in the world of what could’ve been because quite frankly, it just isn’t. If you’re living in a world of wondering and overthinking situations, you’ll never be able to move forward into a life of the people and experiences you’re supposed to indulging in.

There are so many cheesy phrases that encompass this general idea, what’s meant to be will be, it is what it is, the idea of destiny, but essentially, I believe in all of these. Obviously, there are courses of action that can be taken to control one’s own destiny, and I am all for creating your own destiny. However, part of creating your own destiny is moving forward in a positive direction, taking every experience and making the best out of each and every moment, wipe your tears and move on.

Living in the past leads to having a negative outlook on life because you’re not making the best out of every moment, you’re wondering “what could’ve been.” Instead of pondering this thought in your mind, focus on what can be. You’re probably thinking that these are the exact same phrase, but honestly, these two phrases are extremely similar to the idea of looking at a glass as half full or half empty.

If you’re someone who sees a glass as half empty, you are stuck in the world of what could’ve been; if you’re someone who sees a glass as half full, you are someone who is making the most out of life, looking at what can be, and will be.

Nothing is impossible. If you work hard enough, and change your mindset to one that is positive, everything that is meant to happen to you, will. Of course, it is difficult to maintain a purely positive outlook on life, but if you try hard enough to see the good in everything, what could’ve been will truly be a thing of the past.