If we could have it all our own way, life would be a series of sweet moments and nothing but love, love, love, but then, this is the real world, so this can’t happen. While you’ll have plenty of life-affirming moments, there’ll also be those incidents and days that have you under the covers, hiding from the world. While it can feel like there’s no path towards a happier life, remember that it’s always possible! We take a look at a few useful tips below.

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Whether your circumstances are a result of your own actions or not, it’s important that you’re good to yourself. People are all too ready to let that inner chimp - their negative voice - do all the talking, but this will only compound your misery. Instead, try to keep any negativity at bay. If they arrive, just let them float away! Beyond that, it’s all about taking care of the essentials in life, like making your bed, eating well, getting enough exercise and sunshine, and so on. You might not feel like doing these things, but they will be helping you.

Those tough moments in life are going to feel all-immersive. They’re all you can think about. There is nothing but the here and now, and the circumstances you find yourself in. While you should try to remain as present as possible, also spend a little time thinking about the future. It’s going to come sooner rather than later, and when it does, you’ll be in a better position than now. By making plans for the future, you’ll also have something to look forward to, as well.

You can’t be expected to navigate all of life’s tough times by yourself. You’ll need help finding a route to the other side! This can come in the form of friends and family, or professional help. There are law firms that can you help you get justice for the wrongs you’ve suffered, or defend you if you’ve been accused of a crime that could derail your future. If that happens to you, take a look at Martin & Kent; their legal team will ensure that you’ve got an aggressive defense. You don’t have to face your toughest hour all on your own. Get the help you need.

If you’re in dire straits, it’s worth remembering that you’re not the first person to find themselves in this position. Take a look through history, and you’ll find that there has been plenty of people who faced incredible tough obstacles in life yet managed to overcome them. People today will have a lot to say, but you might just find that the best words come from people who have long gone. You’ll also find plenty of people who managed to pick themselves up off the ground of rock bottom and create a new life for themselves. No matter how tough it gets, there’s always a brighter future waiting.

Choosing not to drink alcohol is a decision that causes quite the stir for much of the population. In many ways, modern culture revolves around alcohol: the quick drink after work, the celebratory champagne, and the constant mentions of “wine o’clock” that invade social media every evening.

Strangely - and unlike many other personal decisions - the choice not to drink alcohol tends to create judgment from others; as if they are personally offended by a choice not to partake in this culture. This judgment is usually swiftly followed by one of a number of common assumptions people make when confronted with a non-drinker…

Drinking culture is so absorbed into our society that this is the immediate, number one assumption made by people when a teetotaler tells them they don’t drink. Most of us know that abstention is a key component of recovering from alcohol addiction, and given that drinking is so widespread, declining an alcoholic beverage is to immediately arouse suspicions.

This is a problematic response. First and foremost, if someone is in recovery, then this issue doesn’t need drawing attention to. Secondly, if someone is declining a drink for other reasons, they shouldn’t need to be scrutinized for what is a basic personal preference.

There are hundreds of good reasons not to drink alcohol. They may worry about the health impact, have taken the time to learn details here about the prevalence and damage of DUIs, or - most commonly of all - they just don’t like the taste. Yet despite these good reasons, many people associate the choice not to drink with someone being boring - you’re a stuck-in-the-mud, determined to ruin everyone’s fun.

This isn’t the case, of course; teetotalers are more than capable of having a great time - and what’s more, they’ll be able to remember that they had a great time, too.

Woman declining a glass of wine? It can’t just be preference - it must be because she’s pregnant! Man declining a beer? He’s being supportive of his pregnant partner who can’t drink!

It’s worth noting that this assumption can be hurtful as well as incorrect. Say, for example, a couple have been privately struggling with infertility; if declining a drink brings forth the “are you pregnant?” question, this can cause significant distress.

This is perhaps the strangest assumption of all, and is usually brought forth if someone explains they are not drinking due to not liking the taste. There’s no reason for a person to lie about not wanting to drink; no one is declining a cocktail and then going home to a glass of wine just to spite the person who offered them the cocktail.

While many people enjoy alcohol, others are more sensitive to it, or find the taste bitter, sour, and off-putting. Given that society readily accepts we all have different preferences for food, is it so surprising that we have beverage differences also?

The choice not to drink alcohol may seem like a bizarre one in modern society, but it is a personal choice, and the above assumptions are just unnecessary. Sometimes, someone just doesn’t want to drink alcohol - and given they are the only person impacted by that decision, this really shouldn’t be the concern of anyone else.