Think about the absolute worst thing that has ever happened to you. Remember how you felt in that exact moment. Feel the pain, the emotion behind the situation and allow it to consume you all over again, just for a moment. No matter what happened, in that moment you felt as though that was it. You truly believed you would never be the same again and that nothing could ever possibly make things better. You viewed this completely horrible situation as exactly that: a completely horrible situation, and quite possibly the catalyst of your downfall. At this time, you felt like nothing less than terrible could come out of what had just happened. But let me assure you that every cloud has a silver lining.

No, I'm not saying that you're horrible situation is going to turn into something wonderful overnight. I'm not saying that your less-than-average boyfriend dumping you is going to lead you into the arms of your prince charming. I'm not saying that your boss firing you is going to send you to the front steps of your dream job. I'm definitely not saying that any part of your time after this series of unfortunate events will be easy. What I am saying is that it will be rewarding.

The phrase "every cloud has a silver lining" can be a little misleading at times. Some may just use it to help themselves get through a hard time. They probably repeat the line to themselves, numbly and without really thinking or believing it. If you dig deeper and go beneath the surface of the idiom, however, you will find words to live by.

With any bad situation, there is always room to learn and grow. First, you will need time to heal. This is where you wallow in self-pity and do stupid things that you think will solve all of your problems, but unfortunately, they won't. That's alright though, it's all part of the process. Once you come to realize what has happened, and I mean truly understand your part in all of this, the silver lining will make its initial appearance.

After the realization hits, it is almost as though you have gained a whole new outlook. While it definitely takes time to get to this place, there is no better feeling than looking back on the past and being fully aware of the difference between who you were and who you are. If your boyfriend dumped you, you learned in time how to cope with heartbreak, and that you should never fully depend on another person for anything in your life. If your boss fired you, you learned how to better your work ethic and how to get back on your feet after a setback. In the end, the most important things are those that you learn when life hits you hard. It's not winning that matters, but rather what you take away from a loss.

So, maybe every unfortunate situation does not gracefully turn out in your favor, but the lessons you learn from it will carry with you through the rest of your life and only make you stronger.