I suffer from mild depression and a social and generalized anxiety disorder (and I'm not afraid who knows it, let's talk about mental health sometime).

Some days these things make it hard to get out of bed in the morning, or to make myself do anything other than what is required of me for the day.

I have, however, lived through so many experiences with these, and they have changed my life. Through heartbreak, I met a love of my life, met my best friends, dealt with death, college parties, making new friends, going away to school, love, (etc, etc.) and to my surprise, I'm still here and I'm still going, and I'm better than ever before.

This is a list of some of the things that keep me going under any circumstance. They are the things that keep me grounded through it all (they could help you too!).

1. Don't you ever compromise who you are because someone doesn't understand the way your brain works.

2. Everything happens for a reason, everything's gonna be alright.

3. There is always something to be grateful for.

4. Sometimes the things we want, the things we need, and the things we should have are three totally different things, and that's just how life is.

5. If you don't like something in your life, then change it.

6. You can't regret anything you've done to better yourself by removing yourself from a situation that wasn't making you genuinely happy.

7. The only wasted actions are the ones you didn't take.

8. Pain will change you more profoundly than success or good fortune.

9. You will never know happiness if you are never able to be happy with what you have.

10. Be passionate. Be overly passionate. Be so passionate that people think you might be a little crazy.