If anyone knows me, you know that I value hard work and aim to make a difference in any way possible. I am passionate about law and politics and spend every waken moment trying to better myself in my craft and who I am. I have many people asking me how I do it all without breaking down. Yet, if you are close to me, you know the truth. Everyone, even dreamers like myself, go through hard times. In fact, as I type right now, I feel overwhelmed. I do not write this to bring pity, I write this to point out something: it is not skill that separates failure from success stories. It is determination, that will ultimately separate you from others. I refuse to back down, even though I may fail many times before I get to my goal. I have even been laughed at before, for my ambition and failures. But you know what, that does not define me, and it does not define you either!

"But how do we get through all of our failures and hard times Brandon!" Glad you asked! Here is a list of 10 ways that I deal with all of my stress and failures:

1) Trust God

I know not everyone believes in God, but hear me out. If you do not want to even do that, I guess you could skip this one. Anyways, I would not be where I am without God today. Paul in Thessalonians sums it up perfectly: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in ALL (emphasis mine) circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." God will take care of you. Ultimately life is more than just trying to get places. God meant for you to thrive, not just survive.

2) Failure Does Not Have to Be a Bad Thing

Michael Jordan summed it up best:"I've failed over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed." In other words, practice makes perfect. Sure, you may not always be the most talented at everything you attempt to do, but champions come from the most unlikely of places. I will never give up and I WILL one day be a lawyer.. It is just the way it is.

3) Let's Hear it For the Family

Whenever I get stressed I talk to my family/friends. Everyone needs community. Everyone needs those people that support you no matter what. You may not always see eye to eye with your friends and family, but you have one thing in common: they all always have your back.

4) Have Fun

Some nights, you just have to put everything you are doing aside and just have some fun! More likely than not, you will come back the next day feeling great.

5) Don't Listen to the Haters

In everything you do in life, ESPECIALLY when you fail, you will have people throwing shade at you so much that you feel like you're standing underneath a tree. Don't listen to them. The only people's feedback that you should care about are your true friends and family. Even then, you may not agree with them, but you'll know they will be saying it out of love.

6) Don't Focus on the Past

Have you ever gotten into one of those funky moods where you just cannot get over what you have or have not done? I know I have. Acknowledge what you did wrong, access the situation, and try to do better next time. You can only change the present.

7) Know Where Your Self-Worth Comes From

Sorry to tell you this, but you are not what you do. No matter how much people tell you otherwise, I got one simple truth that overrides what they all say: You are made in the image of God. **Mic Drop** That's right, whether you are gay, straight, yellow, blue, orange, or unemployed, God takes you as you are. And you should too. I'm sorry if Christians have treated you as if you are not worth something. Christians are simply imperfect people too, that are not always the best representatives of God. But that's the beauty of it, you do not have to be perfect either.

8) Be Active

Whether it is walking, playing basketball, or dancing, get active! It will help you get those endorphins moving and get your mind off everything the world is throwing at you.

9) Think Of Yourself

It sounds selfish doesn't it? Not really. I know that sometimes, I think too much about others before myself. Yet, you cannot help people if you are running on an empty tank! Learn how to say no!

10) Think About What You Have Accomplished

Often times in the moment we gloss over what we have accomplished in the past. Don't do that to yourself! Be proud of what you have accomplished! No matter how big or small.