In my twelfth grade year, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and take a leadership class. This class definitely caused me think about things like I never did before. I started to think on such a deeper level, not to mention I learned more about life in that class than any other class I took in high school. On one specific day, I remember my teachers asked something that kind of stuck with me well. They had us all sit down and write our answer to the question: What is one main goal you have in life? Surprisingly, it kind of struck me weird. It was such a simple question yet I had never really thought of a goal on that large of a scale; over the time period of my whole life.

To be honest, I never ended up writing anything on the paper. I was to busy thinking so hard on it, but what I came up with ended up being so simple. What I chose to share as one of my life's goals was to be genuinely happy in all areas life. The reason to my choosing is because we constantly see success being measured and goals being reached through materialistic things. We've got in in our head that if we have those things, we'll be happy and successful, so I wanted my goal to be something that can spiritually/mentally be reached.

Though physical things are so wonderful to have, they will always be temporary. Now, the catch here is that happiness isn't exactly a goal. It's a choice; a lifestyle. The only way to reach the goal of happiness is to choose happiness. I've learned many ways to live a happy life and they all seem to somehow fall under 1.) looking at the positives in every situation and 2.) following your heart and doing what you know you're supposed to do. That can look different for everyone, for everyone's life has its own story. Thinking positively is not the same as expecting the best to happen all the time. It is accepting whatever life throws and knowing that it is the best for the moment. Be fulfilled with what you have while striving to get where you want to be.

There are some things in life that you cannot control. That is okay. Focus on what you can control: your attitude, perspective, and faith. I've always been very good with listening to my heart. I encourage everyone to be more sensitive to it. It will tell you your passions and will help you know what to do in difficult situations if you let it. If you follow your heart and do what you know you're supposed to do, there is no room to be unhappy with an outcome.

I hear so many people say things like, "I just want to be happy" and it makes my heart ache because everyone deserves pure joy and everyone can most definitely have it. I think that everyone should make a lifelong goal to maintain joy in all areas. Imagine that happiness is a locked door. Whether you know it or not, the key is tucked away in your own pocket. That's what you have to realize... That you hold the key. You are the only one holding yourself back from happiness. If you just allow yourself to reach in, get the key, and open the door. You can have happiness if you let happiness have you.