Gratitude was never meant to be an excuse for giving up on the obstacles God has put before you. Some of the most magical things he can bring us require faith and a lot of planning.

Find then follow the path that enables you to live the life you want to live. Don't be blow by the winds of fate. Don't be a creation of circumstances.

Don't let circumstances determine your fate. Choose your fate and mold circumstances to fit your fate of choice.

Things don't happen for a reason, we make reasons out of things that happen.

I think instead [of happiness] we should be working for contentment... an inner sense of fulfillment that's relatively independent of external circumstances.

I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our disposition and not on our circumstances.