"It's a bad day, not a bad life" is one of my favorite Pinterest quotes. It's simple and intuitive and cheesy as hell, but it helps me so much when I'm feeling down. Along the way, I've found that there are tons of ways to choose to be happy right now, and here are some of them.

1. Smile more.

It is scientifically proven to make you happier. And when you smile at someone, they can't help but smiling back at you. Good vibes all around!

2. Don't hold grudges.

In case you hadn't heard—life is short. Way too short anyway to hold grudges. Take a step back and see the situation from the person who hurt you's perspective, and if you truly can't forgive them, try talking it out!

3. Don't blame yourself or put yourself down.

If you don't believe in yourself, it will be really difficult for others to believe in you. You will make mistakes along the way, and that's okay! Just get back on your feet and show the world everything you have to offer—which is a lot.

4. Learn from your mistakes.

Yeah, you bet I went there. It's easy to wallow in self-pity and hate yourself for the things you did wrong, but it's also a missed opportunity. So get up and try again!

5. Don't compare yourself to others.

Sometimes, it seems like everyone has their life together. This is NOT true. From your parents to your overachieving friends, everyone experiences self-doubt some days. Be happy with who you are and reassure your friends when they don't feel their best—you will be much better off.

6. Always do the best you can for other people.

You never know who is having a worse day than you, and being there for the people who most need you the most is always a good idea—for them and for you. Not only will you make an impact on their lives, but you will also learn how to put your own hardships into perspective and overcome them.

7. Accept criticism and move on.

Although it's never pleasant, constructive criticism can help you improve in every aspect of your life; don't take it personally and use it to your advantage. On the other hand, some people are just jealous; ignore their spiteful comments—you are so much better than that.

8. Make the best choices for you and own them.

This ties into blowing off the haters: if you want to do something for yourself that nobody understands, DO IT. This is your life and nobody gets to make decisions for you. That being said, keep it to things that make you happy and listen to your family and friends' advice!

9. Lower your expectations... but work hard to make your dreams a reality.

Things won't always get served to you on a silver platter, but that's a good thing! Reaping the benefits of your hard work is always more rewarding anyway.

Follow these simple steps and you'll live a much happier, more positive life—pinky swear!