Never settle.

There are many circumstances where the word 'settling' is a positive thing. Settling into a job, settling into a home, settling into a relationship, etc. To become settled is to become comfortable. Unfortunately, far too often we choose settling as the easy way out. The sad truth about settling, is that in many circumstances, we settle because we do not believe we can do any better. This statement is rarely true. Whether we choose to recognize it or not, we are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. We were not put on this earth to settle for the first thing that is offered to us. We were put on this earth to push every boundary and seek out what we are truly passionate about. Whether it is a career, a personal goal, or a partner, we deserve to take the route that will give us the greatest level of fulfillment. No one wants a mediocre career and no one wants a mediocre love life; these are two aspects of our existence that should make an individual radiate with pride and happiness. We take pride in things that we work hard for, not things that are handed to us on a golden platter. With that said, everyone deserves to recieve great fortune from time to time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having something fall perfectly into place on its own. But the key is never expecting these types things to happen. This way we are continuously working to build the life we deserve and not just waiting around for it to build itself.

A Few Simple Ways to Make Today a Great Day

1. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!: Far too often we let things like a stolen parking spot or a bad hair day ruin our moods, but there is no reason for that! There are far more important things that are going right in life to let something so silly and insignificant ruin our entire day. We are all guilty of it. Save the 'bad days' for days that are actually really bad. It's like the boy who cried wolf, no one is going to care as much about your seriously bad day if everyday prior was a 'bad' day also.

2. Smile: It sounds simple and that is because is it. Yet sometimes we fail to realize what a difference it actually makes. Whether you realize it or not, when you are smiling you are happier. Share your smile with the world and inspire a smile on someone else's face. What an easy way to make someones day, including your own.

3. Be Appreciative: One of the first things I do when I'm having a great day is call my mom and tell her how much I love her. It is a great feeling to remind yourself how blessed you and how much you have to be thankful for. There is no better time than today to tell your loved ones how grateful you are to have them in your life. And after that phonecall or conversation, I bet you'll feel a even a little happier.

4. Don't Let Anyone Bring You Down: We all know what it's like when someone tries to rain on our parade, but don't let them. There's a greatness in the feeling of being the bigger person and not letting someone bring you down. If anything, try to bring them up with you. Some people are just committed to negativity and there's nothing you can do about that. As long as you at least tried to send them some positive vibes, you've done your part and you can just let them continue on with their crappy day while you keep loving yours.

5. Focus on the Present: You know that huge paper you have due next week? It's going to get done, but in the time when you aren't working on it, there is no need to dwell on it. Don't let those lingering worries about the future or the past cloud your thoughts about the present. Stay in the moment and embrace the moment. Tomorrow will come soon enough.

"Be in love with your life. Every detail of it."

Writing has always been a passion of mine. Up until this point, my personal writing has been cofined solely to the pages of my private journal. This is my chance to share my thoughts with the world, and if I'm lucky, to provide some daily inspiration to those in need. It is far too easy to get caught up in our fast-paced lives and fail to recognize the beauty in each day. We need to focus on our blessings more than our problems and accept life as the beautiful gift that it is.