As human beings, we’re all very aware that things don’t always go as planned. You may have just recently gotten out of a serious relationship. Or you may have gotten denied from what you thought was the school of your dreams. Or, like in most cases, you simply feel as though nothing ever seems to go right and suddenly, you may find that the reality of your life seems far from what you had originally hoped for and envisioned.

When our expectations fall short, we have a tendency to be disappointed, hurt and at times, just downright angry. But, many people fail to see the true blessings that lie beyond our expectations. Yes, it’s painful when things don’t work out the way we imagined they would. However, it’s that very pain and disappointment that often clouds our judgment and stops us from seeing the golden opportunities that life has to offer.

Realize that sometimes things need to go wrong so they can go right.

Often times, things don’t work out for us and that’s perfectly okay. Trust that things happen for a reason and that greater things are in store for you. That may sound cliché but it’s the truth. Things go wrong, but eventually, they go right. A change of perspective is all it takes to change the way you feel about certain circumstances.

The reality of life is that, despite our expectations, we can’t control what happens to us, however, we can control the way we react to the things that happen to us.

“No life circumstances are 100 percent negative. Every negative circumstance also contains its opposite, and so there is something good buried within every seemingly bad situation. Life is not about the negative circumstances that happen to you, it’s about what you do with the golden opportunities hidden within!” –Rhonda Bynes.

Despite whatever experiences you’ve encountered throughout your life, they have planted the seeds to grow and offer new opportunities and experiences. It’s up to you whether or not you choose to see them.

Make the conscious choice to see the good in every seemingly negative experience you encounter.

“Your life experiences are only as valuable as your ability to turn them into life lessons”- Cleo Wade.

Make the best out of the negative experiences you encounter. They’re a part of your journey as an individual. They help you learn and they help you grow.

Choose to focus on the positive side of things.

It’s definitely easier said than done but whether it’s disappointment, stress, fear, grief or general unhappiness, emotions are a part of life. Don’t forget that without them we would never know what it’s like to be happy or have positive experiences. Nor would we ever grow if life was easy 100% of the time. So don’t try to repress your emotions, let them in. Let them educate you and let them make you stronger and wiser.

Don’t deprive yourself of happiness and all that life has to offer by dwelling on negativity. Choose positive thoughts, choose good feelings, focus on them and stay there.

Life doesn’t always go as planned but it’s up to you whether or not you choose to see the positive side of every negative situation. It’s up to you to shift your perspective and see that sometimes things don’t work out for the best. It’s up to you to let yourself learn and grow from pain and disappointment.

The reality of life is that it’s what YOU make it. So make the best of it.