We've all had those moments where we feel like giving up; the moments where running home and crawling back into our bed feels like the best option, where we'd rather block all of our responsibilities out and devour an entire tub of ice cream instead. Feeling this way is one hundred percent human; if you have never felt this way, well, surely you have not lived. Life is a beautiful thing, yet it is something that carries its fair share of difficulties. Some of these difficulties may be as small as choosing what to do on a Friday evening, and others may be more strenuous such as having a conflict with someone you confide in or having to make a significant life choice. Facing struggles and being thrown hurdles are things that are completely inevitable. However, the way you react is all your choice. How you handle yourself, how you handle the situation and how you move forward are all things that you can control. Having the right mindset, the proper goals and a strong drive will only benefit you. The first step of having a healthy mind is to always keep positive. Be an optimist. Remember: the glass is always half full, my friend. It is never half empty.

Here is the root of the overall problem:

The world we live in today is much different than in decades past. We are all growing to be more selfish, more self-indulgent and more conscious of what others think and believe about us. The way we do things is different than the way our parents did them. The way our parents do things is different than the way our grandparents did them, and so on. Technology is booming, competition is rising and the hatred for others unlike ourselves is arising... again. We are constantly questioning how others perceive us and how we look from another person's eye. We are materialistic; we care about what we have and what we don't have. We have grown up in this world thinking that irrelevant things are relevant, and vice versa. Our minds are twisted, and our goals are not actual goals. We are living on a planet where it is okay to hurt others and to frown upon people who are lower than us. It is an apparent conclusion that our world is a crazy place and that it is to blame for all the depression/anxiety/fear that people deal with each day. Again, it is easy to get lost. It is easy to want to give up. Those things are easy. The easy way out is to give up. That won't solve anything. That won't fix our communities or help better our future generations. That won't help you achieve your goals, and that won't get you where you want to be. Unfortunately, we all expect more than what is possible, and we have a constant craving for something that is not achievable: perfection. Because of this unrealistic desire, it is quite understandable as to why someone would constantly feel the urge to stop, quit trying and give up.

Being in my late teens and having been forced to grow up, I have been more aware of my surroundings. No, not who is around me while crossing the street, but the surroundings that are in the bigger picture. I have put more thought into why I'm here, what I am meant to do and how every little aspect around me influences me in some way. I have oftentimes felt like giving up. There have been many days and nights where I have wanted to drop out of school and make a life at home realistic for myself. I have felt defeated, stupid, and betrayed. But that's OK. It's life -- and that is what structures you to come out stronger. The first step to a healthy mind: optimism. Half full. Having hope.

Understand that perfection is an unrealistic goal. If all you care about is achieving perfection, you are in for a world of hurt. The Websters Dictionary's definition of perfection is not something that a single human can reach. Instead, mold your own definition. What do you think perfection is? Take the time to ask yourself that, and work towards it each day. You will never be 100 percent perfect, but if you successfully hit your goals and move forward, I think that's as close to perfection as you'll ever get. And THAT is something to be proud of.

The next thing to keep in mind is to not ignore your emotions: if you're discouraged, do not ignore it. Step to the root of the problem. When feeling defeated or dumb, do not push it aside. It is important to learn why you are feeling this way. Learning about the root of your feelings and how to not trigger those negative thoughts will only help you maintain a happier, more insightful life. We live in a world where it is not OK to have issues, and if you do have them (like everyone does), it is the norm to want to hide them away immediately. You have to remember that feeling that way is not a sign of weakness, but a chance for recovery and redemption. Think POSITIVE. If you want to get anywhere in life, especially in the world we live in, you must, must, MUST, think in a brighter light. Take your "weaknesses" and turn them into your own "strengths".

Take time to stop and smell the roses. It is so incredibly important to freeze and appreciate all the beauty that surrounds you. Today's society is so focused on the bad rather than the good. Having the strength to look over the negatives and then look for something positive is a tremendous quality; a quality that everyone needs to become hip to.

Take a second to appreciate the good in your life. Stop overanalyzing your stressors! You woke up, you have clothes on your back and a place to go home to. The little things that you are worried about are not worth worrying about. In the grand scheme of things, those obstacles don't matter.

If you look at the bigger picture and everything you do have, you will notice that everything settles into place. Think about your future and the reason you wake up each day. Why do you work? Why do you put so much effort into your school work? The reason is simply because it all leads to something. Yes, it is tough. It is hard as heck sometimes to get up out of bed. Just take a moment, breathe, and think about why you do what you do. Thinking about the bigger picture puts everything into perspective; it makes you remember your purpose and triggers your drive.

Everything happens for a reason. Stop asking, "Why?" Instead, think to yourself, "This was meant to happen, and I will learn from this." Seriously, learn from your obstacles. Take every hardship and turn them into learning opportunities. Going through those will build your character.

But most importantly, tell yourself, "the glass is ALWAYS half full."

Our world is a crazy place. It 's hard and doesn't make sense half the time. But if we all just take a second to be appreciative, stop and smell the roses and learn from our difficulties, a weight on our shoulders will be relieved instantly. Attitude is everything, and life is truly what you make it.