Welcome to my very first article!

I am currently a sales intern at an insurance brokerage firm and I am absolutely loving it. My favorite part about it is that no day is the same and there is always something new to learn.

I guess having most of my lunches paid for is pretty great, too. One out of the many things that we're doing is reading a book - The Energy Bus. The storyline is centered around a man who is seemingly facing some pretty tough challenges that are familiar to just about everyone.

Long story short, he gets a flat tire one morning before work (where he is practically losing his job) and has to take the bus. He is nothing less than infuriated with this minute inconvenience.

The bus driver, Joy, immediately recognizes his frustration and is intent on helping him see that not everything that occurs in our lives is meant to harm us and that the world is actually not out to get us.

Joy, being the extremely JOYful (pun intended) person that she is, has developed her own set of rules in winning the game against negativity and life.

Even though this story can be a little ridiculous at times, I think it has a pretty powerful message behind it and one that I intend to implement into my own life.

I am generally a pretty positive person but there are certainly times when I think all odds are against me and that nothing good could possibly come out of the situation I am facing at that moment...until it does.

We all face some decently rough times in our lives that don't always allow us to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My philosophy that I try so hard to live by is that the light is always visible, so long as you're actually willing to see it.

In my opinion, I believe that the difference between a good and a bad day is perception. I believe that perception plays a huge role in our lives - in our attitudes, our relationships, etc.

I don't necessarily believe that a situation turned bad could be good just by perceiving it differently, but I do know that by taking control of the situation in perceiving it in a better way, could certainly change your own outcome and how you view it later. Everything happens for a reason, and I can't think of a better explanation for my own shortcomings.

I think that positivity is the new move for a variety of reasons. One is that it can improve your health and wellbeing. By being more positive, you're telling anxiety that there is no room for it in your life.

Secondly, it increases your self-esteem and what better way to provoke a boost of confidence than to tell yourself, "I can, and I will." Lastly, it allows us to enjoy life more.

I theorize that the world would be a much better place if we were all a bit more positive. Instead of fighting wars with each other, we should begin to fight the wars within ourselves that enable us to take life and those around us for granted and allow us to tear others down with us.

Instead of falling victim to the negativity around you, succumb to the positive things that are taking place in your life because YOU are the driver of your own bus.

These are the 10 Rules For the Ride of Your Life:

1. You're the driver of your own bus

2. Desire, Vision, and Focus, move your bus in the right direction

3. Fuel your ride with positive energy

4. Invite people on your bus and share your vision for the road ahead

5. Don't waste your energy on those who don't get on

6. Post a sign on your bus that says, "No energy vampires allowed!"

7. Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them for the ride

8. Love your passengers

9. Drive with purpose

10. Have fun and enjoy the ride