"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."

-- Helen Keller

No matter your position in life, you always have a choice. Everyday, every moment, you either consciously or subconsciously make decisions that will either lead to a happy fulfilled life, or a struggle. I went to a Buddhist meditation once, during the most traumatic point in my life. The Buddhist monk spoke to me afterwards, as if he knew what state I was in. He told me that not only do Buddhists believe that we live many different lives, each one teaching us new lessons and new experiences, but there are also people who have 'died' in their living state. This is when they can restart their own lives from that moment, and leave the past behind. It is not easy to pick yourself up from any traumatic situation, but it can be done.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose."

-- Dr. Seuss

So Here are 10 tips to create a more satisfying life for yourself.

1. Wake up early!

The most successful people in this world all seem to agree on this one. I know, I am NOT a morning person either. However I knew that getting a head-start on my day was one of those decisions that I had to make. I used the Mel Robbins #5SecondRule to do this. I heard her on Ted Talk, bought her book and made that choice to start setting me alarm clock earlier. I started with 15 minutes every week until I got to my goal. If you get up early, by the time the rest of the world wakes up, you are already 4 hours ahead! You feel better, you accomplish amazing things in those few hours of the early morning.

2. Exercise!

I am a certified Personal Trainer, and I still struggled with that one when I was in my lowest point. I was tired, weak, unmotivated and the last thing I wanted was to go to a gym full of happy people. Exercise releases Serotonin and Dopamine, the chemicals that reduce stress and put us in a good mood. I started with Yoga, at home, in the morning. Then I started going for daily runs. After a few weeks, the gym was an easy choice!

3. Be in Nature!

Get outside, breathe the air, go for a walk in the forest. Plan hikes, go to the beach. Spend time everyday outside, whether it is a walk, run, or just on your property. This helps clear your mind and revitalizes your spirit. The Japanese practice of #forestbathing has scientifically proven health benefits.

4. Eat Healthier!

Get rid of processed foods and sugars in your diet. This one is a no-brainer, however, if you are like me, and feel that you cannot survive without chocolate, eat less! We all know the studies showing the links of these foods and heath issues. Fortunately for people like me, there is a ray of hope. Dr. Mercola's view is that eating a diet consisting of 90% real food and only 10% or less processed foods is a doable goal, and could make a significant difference in your overall health.

5 & 6. Meditate and Read!

I am a firm believer in the wellness triangle, which is why I put these two together. You MUST have a balance with your mind, body and spirit. Whether you are religious or not, meditation is a way to access your spiritual side. Meditation is proven to reduce stress, boosts brain power, controls anxiety, improves sleep, and helps with emotional or physical pain. Reading has many similar benefits, and has been shown to expand our feelings and social ability. A study by Rush University Medical Center published in Neurology, found that keeping up with mentally stimulating activities like reading can mean a 32% slower rate of cognitive decline and those who read and do other brainy pursuits were 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.

7. Love!

Loving, caring, and serving others gives us a greater sense of purpose. It might help you live longer, as you experience less stress. A study led by Doug Oman of the University of California Berkley found that elderly people who volunteered for 2 or more oganizations were 44% less likely to die over a 5 year health period than those who didn't volunteer. In another study done by the University of British Columbia and Harvard University they found that regardless of a person's income, people who spent more money on others or charities reported higher levels of Happiness.

8. Set Goals and Write them Down!

“By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands—your own.” —Mark Victor Hansen

“Goals. There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. And there’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them.” —Jim Rohn

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.” —Zig Ziglar

"If you choose a goal, without writing it down, you are less likely to follow through with it. If you choose it, write it down, and don't act upon it, you will have a nice piece of paper." - Lori Couture

You must have a vision and follow through with a sense of purpose, and if you fail, try another route to achieve your goals. Learn from your failures. Keep moving forward.

9. Surround Yourself with Positive People!

When you allow negative people in your life, they will drain your energy. Negativity is contagious, but so is happiness. You create your own reality. Start by making the choice to be happy. Laugh, quit complaining, find others who inspire you. This may seem difficult at first if you are surrounded by negativity, however when you make the choice to change, you will begin to attract positive people in your life.

10. Get a Puppy!

This is actually not a joke. Dogs give their humans unconditional love, never judge you, are always there to give you a shoulder to cry on, motivate you to get out of bed and get outside, and bring you joy. If you cannot get a dog, volunteer at a local shelter.

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."– Josh Billings