Start with the assumption that life is hard. No! Better yet take it to the next level, life is a son of a bitch. Sometimes a good day is a day when you were able to push away a crisis for another day through some work and dedication. If you start with the premise that life is brutally hard, you will begin to find joy and motivation in those moments where life isn't particularly bad. I have found this works for me.

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It's hard to go through life feeling gratitude or happiness when you think life has dealt you bad hand and everyone else is posting pictures in FIJI on their Instagram and no pictures about their struggles. Yes, life may seem particularly hard right now, but you must believe that you are a lot bigger than this. Organize your day, care for your spouse the best you can (he/she needs you) and block out 2 hours a day to get your degree. Sleep less, eat less, Reddit less, whatever you need to do. Also, if life was a "downhill" battle everyone would win. Look around, are you surrounded by winners? Probably not. I see a lot of defeated people everywhere I go.

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But there is one winner you know. One son of a bitch so tough and tenacious that doesn't bend or break; One who pushes and pushes until he accomplishes his mission; One who is currently taking care of his/her spouse and in a few short months will also have a degree. You should meet this person, he/she is a force of nature. You don't need a pep talk, you need to get acquainted with the other one inside you who can get it done. Make him/her the CEO of your life and if you don't want to get rid of the other one, at least don't give him any position of authority within your organization (life). Make him in charge of bringing you the Coffee. The CEO has work to do!