If all is going wrong in your life, the worst thing to do is to dwell on it. Give yourself a little time to cry and feel your sadness and then move on.

That’s life, we all come across difficulties but we must make the best of the life we have been given. Death, illness, rejection, depression, a friendship or marriage that ends, they are all part of life. There is also so much beauty and glimpses of happiness in life. A new love, seeing your child for the first time, having a wonderful laugh with a friend. Our relationships with our family, our friends, that’s always been the key to happiness for me. Years ago, an important friendship that spanned over twenty-five years to someone I considered a sister came to a shocking end. It threw me into a deep depression. I wasted years dwelling on it and other unfortunate situations. Now if I encounter something that makes me feel depressed, I have the tools to help myself.

How do I do it?  I guess you can say I’ve become an optimistic person. It’s not something that comes naturally to me. I look for the best in any situation and expect good things to happen. It’s my faith in God. I think certain unpleasant things happen to help us grow and push us into places we wouldn’t normally go to on our own.

New research shows that there’s a positive impact that optimism has on both mental and physical health. Finding happiness all boils down to the way we talk to ourselves. Having a deep connection with our source and believing that everything happens for a reason.

A book that really has helped me shape my positive attitude is “The Quran and the Life of Excellence” by Sultan Abdulhameed. The book literally changed the direction of my life. This inspirational book is a great read for anyone that has faith in God. I consider the author a mentor and a friend. He has helped me and many others see the power that is within us to live a life of excellence.

One of the ways I have tapped into the power within me is to practice gratitude. I’ve blogged about the importance of gratitude before. I know from my own experience that if we take time to notice and reflect upon the things that we are thankful for, we experience more positive emotions, sleep better and even have stronger immune systems. I keep both a gratitude jar and a gratitude journal. Writing brief reflections on moments for which we’re thankful—can significantly increase well-being and life satisfaction.

I also try to spend time doing what I love to do. It helps me find joy in my life. I love reading good books and poetry. I love to travel and learn about other cultures. I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do that but I still want to see more. I enjoy going to the movies, shopping, dinning in fine restaurants and taking in the beauty of nature. I love spending time with my family and friends.

I love helping people. That’s the direction I am taking now, to work on things that give me the ability to help others. It’s a selfish act because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel fulfilled. I hope someone reading this can benefit from my practice in their own life.

If you are interested in the book I recommended, “The Quran and the Life of Excellence” you can buy it on Amazon.