Do you remember when you had your first truly bad day?

I don't mean a day when you came home from school crying because someone stole your toy at recess, but rather the first time you actually wished you were an adult so all of your (very trivial) problems would vanish?

Because when we're naive little tots, adults seem immaculate. They have it all together because when you're an adult you don't have to worry, right? HA.

The funny thing about getting older is the mystery of "adulthood" disappears. We quickly realize that, no matter our age, we are all doing the same thing: figuring it out.

Whether we are going through our first breakup or having a mid-life crisis (or anything before, in between, or after), we are all just figuring. it. out.

Overtime we learn that with each milestone, there's a new code to crack.

But, with the passing of time we also (hopefully) learn how to crack that code quicker, with less stress, and much more gracefully.

In the last year or so, I've pinpointed a few ways I have learned to crack my current situation's code — tips that would have also proven helpful in previous milestones. Here are the things I've rounded up:

Practice gratitude.

Something that has gotten me through each and every milestone is practicing gratitude. No matter what is going on in my life and how crappy things seem, I step back and take a moment to remember everything I have to be thankful for.

Try these apps:

My Gratitude Journal ($2.99)
HappyFeed (Free)
Grateful: A Gratitude Journal (Free)

Have your moment when things are tough, then put things in perspective.

Don't try to ignore what has happened — no matter how big or small it may be. Take your moment to yell, cry, meditate, write it out, whatever it may be, and then get back out there. It's important to allow yourself the necessary time to be down, as long as you're able to pick yourself back up.

Try these apps:

Cherish the constants and embrace the unexpected.

There are so many things in life that are beyond our control. Cherishing the things you do have control over and embracing life's uncertainties instead of running from them is truly key.

Don't wait for things to happen. Make them happen.

Waiting around for things to come to you, no matter what they are, is never the answer. Being proactive and going after what you want will really help you feel empowered. Trust me, I know it's hard to find the motivation sometimes, but you'll thank yourself later.

Keep going and keep faith.

Remember the song "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba? The one that repeats "I get knocked down, but I get up again, you're never gonna keep me down" over and over? Even if you don't, click that link and make it your anthem. Or better yet, get Dory from "Finding Nemo" saying "Just keep swimming" stuck in your head. Use your faith to help you carry on and never question or let go of it.

Try this app:

Celebrate the highs and navigate the lows with the people you love.

Highs and lows are a part of everyone's life and no one should go through them alone. My best advice is to be vulnerable. Celebrate when it's time to celebrate and cry when it's time to cry, but make sure you aren't always alone when you do so. Like I said, have your moment! But open up to the people around you too, you may be surprised by how much they can relate to you.


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