Groucho Marx once said, “I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead; tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.”

As humans, we tend to focus on our mistakes and what we can do to change our past. We put so much pressure on ourselves trying to please others rather than finding inner peace. We cannot accept our faults unless we think we’ve changed the outcome of our mistakes. Facing reality, we cannot change yesterday or the day before. We must learn to live with our errors and try to create a better tomorrow rather than trying to change yesterday. By doing this, we can let go of our pain and hurt, and learn to be happy for each day that is to come.

Here are a few reasons why I chose to look at the positives in a sucky situation:

Going out with my friends is way better than crying in bed every night.

Eating chicken wings while dancing to Beyoncé with my besties gave me more comfort than crying into my pillow ever did. It made me realize that there’s more to life than tears and frowns, and that there are so many more reasons to smile than to cry. I'm grateful for all my friends that dragged me out when all I wanted to do was stay in and watch TV.

I met some great people.

Being upset in my room meant losing the opportunity to go out and explore. After getting over the fear of stepping out of my comfort zone, I came across some amazing people who I enjoy spending time with, people who made me forget about the pain and sadness I once felt.

I realized that change is inevitable.

I guess it was pretty naïve of me to think that things were going to work out the way I wanted them to. Once I grasped the concepts of nothing being permanent and realizing that the person may not have changed, but was that horrible individual all along, letting go became much easier. You can’t control change, so just ride the wave and get right back up when you crash.

You can’t find happiness in the place you lost it.

I tried so hard to make things work and after countless disappointments, I learned the hard way that what once made me happy, did not anymore. I was in major denial that I didn't realize that there was no point in trying to find satisfaction in something that made me feel empty. Once glass is broken, you do not play with it or try to glue the pieces back together – simply clean it and throw it in the trash.

Some things and some people are just not meant to stay in your life.

Everything happens for a reason, and this happened for the best. Just because something good happened to you, does not mean it’ll be that way forever. Everything comes to an end and sometimes even the things and people that used to make you the happiest are not meant to remain in your life.

I never put my happiness first.

I always want to see someone smile before I do because I believe that everyone deserves to be happy. What I neglected to realize is that I also need to smile. I put everyone I care about before myself and all that it led to was heartbreak and disappointment. I deserve what’s best for me, even if that means cutting a few people out of my life.

Overthinking is useless.

Like I said, change is inevitable. If you can’t change the situation, why stress? Overthinking literally does nothing except kill you inside. Take the situation as it is and move on.

They hate to see you doing better than them.

Trust me, them seeing you happy is probably the worst feeling. They thought they could break you and have control over your happiness, wrong. Once they see you smiling, laughing, and not being upset over them anymore, they come back. Be smart and don’t step right back into the rattrap. Don’t be bitter, always better.

I was tired of my family and friends seeing me miserable.

As supportive as they all were, I knew they were getting tired of hearing the same crap day after day. I definitely couldn’t blame them though; I was getting annoyed with myself at that point too. There’s only so much sympathy they can give to you and then you’re on your own.

I realized that time runs out.

After facing a huge loss in my family, I realized that you don’t have forever. Don’t waste time on things and people who make you nothing but upset. Focus on yourself, what makes you feel better, and on people who appreciate your worth.

Life is really damn good.

The sun shines a little brighter, music plays a little louder, and pizza tastes A LOT better when you decide to let go of all the things that destroyed you. No one deserves to be anything but the happiest.