Basically Brooke

Problems, problems, problems. We all have them, right? Whether it’s that failing grade in English or fighting with family, difficult situations tend to pop up in everyone’s life. Unfortunately, we can’t all be Ariana Grande and write a hit song about ours, but there are things we can do on a daily basis to ease the troubles we do and will continue to experience.

One thing I do when in a tough time is take a minute to breathe. It sounds almost too simple, but taking a step back and re-evaluating the situation can prevent you from doing or saying something you will most likely regret later. Granted, I am not perfect and have not always taken the high road, but I’m willing to bet that we’ve all made that mistake at one point. It may sound so cliché, but trust me: admitting that you may have made a mistake is the first step to fixing whatever is wrong.

Personal experience has also helped me realize the difference between fixing something and confronting something. Speaking calmly to whomever you may have an issue with is vastly different from causing a huge confrontation with the same individual. The first option almost always works in your favor. For things like bad grades, the solution is simple: work harder for what you want. Usually, the solution to your issue begins and ends with you.

For those problems that aren’t so easily solved, the next best thing to do is just deal with them. At some point in our lives, we’ll face things that we cannot fix ourselves. Instead of freaking out about them, each and every one of us needs to develop our own process for handling such situations. Whether it means talking to someone else about it or writing them down to relieve your stress, do it. You never know how much better you’ll feel after you lift that burden, or what opportunities can open for you when you do. Plenty of people have found success in sharing their pains and problems, writers and musical artists being in that category. No matter what, however, you will succeed in being happier if you just take a breath, smile, and remember that no problem can stand in the way of you living your life.