Some people just have the ability to shake things off and look on the bright side of any situation. But if you weren’t born with a resilience gene, then we have some tips to help you make the most of the hard knocks that life hands out… and help you move on to a happier place where you can enjoy your favorite activities again.

According to psychologist Mary Alvord, Ph.D., you have the right to get angry. By realizing and acknowledging your emotions and letting others know so they can help, you’ve taken a first critical step.

As the situation wears on, you should be able to get a fresh perspective on things. Research from the University of Pennsylvania suggests analyzing things in two ways: best-case scenario and worse-case scenario. By looking at the outcomes and journaling your ideas, you might realize your worries aren’t looming so large.

Leaning on your trusted friends and colleagues can make a big difference when you need the support. And shed the emotional attachments to negative people who seem to always bring you down. Make plans with your group and enjoy the company.

Now that you’ve got a supportive group of allies, work on a strategy. This includes making to-do lists and trying to find the positive in problems that come your way. By working on solutions instead of getting bogged down by the negative aspects, you can work on current situations and meet future problems head-on. This preparation will help boost your mood and reduce the downtime that depression takes on your life.