Q: Write a list of everything, no matter how big or small, that you are thankful for. Good examples include things like your family, lover, pets, comfortable home, etc. This will help you to appreciate how many positive things there are in your life because it requires you to shift your focus to what you have instead of what you do not have. When things aren't going so well, instead of ruminating about what isn't good, focus on this list of things that are positive in your life. Pay attention to the little things that you may sometimes take for granted such as shelter over your head and food in your stomach. Engaging in mindfulness techniques has been shown to reduce negative automatic thoughts. Mindfulness helps us shift our focus off of the negative. When people have this ability, they have less depression and anxiety. Shifting attention onto the positive prevents rumination, and it is an essential emotional regulation coping skill. Live in the present, not the future, and certainly not the past. Many people spend much of their time deeply regretting events that have already passed or worrying about what may happen, so they miss out on now. Accept that you can't change the past, but that you have a large amount of control over what you do in the present, which will influence your future. Do mindfulness exercises such as paying direct and focused attention to what you are currently doing such as eating, cleaning, or other daily activities. Attempt to be fully present in the moment and take in everything you experience. Pay attention to how you feel in your body, what you see, and the sensations you have. Focus only on the activity you are engaged in. Life gives you new chances and opportunities at every moment. Setting goals for yourself can help to focus your energy on something positive instead of worrying about negative thinking.  Start by identifying a few goals you want to work on in the next 6 months. Examples of goals could be: applying for a job, finishing school, buying a car, getting more friends, or anything else that you want to accomplish. Make goals that are achievable and realistic. You can use a worksheet or create your own.  Begin each day by focusing on what you are going to do to work toward your goals. This will prevent you from slipping into negative thoughts telling you that life is out to get you, when it isn't. Recognize that change is a part of life.  While some situations in life are definitely difficult (losing a job, losing a loved one), unfortunately some of these situations may be inevitable in life. Things simply may not work out the way we want to sometimes. Attempt to see these situations as opportunities for growth, or universal human experiences (such as loss) that you can get past.  Develop personal mantras or positive affirmations that help you accept change such as, "Everything will work out the way it's supposed to," or, "Change opens new doors."
A: Acknowledge what you are grateful for. Practice mindfulness. Treat each day as a new opportunity to achieve a goal. Accept change.

Q: You can use creative paper materials, or you can use a plain piece of notebook paper. Make sure that you start with the paper's back side facing up.  Try gold or silver foil paper to make the ring look even more like it’s made out of metal. You can find such foil online or in many craft and even some department stores.  A standard piece of paper at 8 by 11.5 inches will work, although people have made paper rings out of smaller squares, even post-it-notes! Use colored paper if you want to make your ring colorful. Really, though, any piece of paper would work. You could even make a paper ring out of a regular piece of lined notebook paper.  You could also try using special Origami paper, which is the Japanese art of paper folding. Try washi or chiyogami, which comes in different colors and designs. This paper, which can be purchased online, is used to make Origami paper designs. This is the first in what will be a series of folds needed to make the ring.  Cut the paper in half where the fold was. Use the crease where you folded as the guide for where to cut the paper. Take either a pair of scissors or just carefully rip the paper at the crease where you folded it.   You will now have a rectangular piece of paper. Once you’ve cut the piece of paper in half, you should fold the rectangular piece of paper you’re left with in half again. It should now be a smaller rectangular shape. The process of making a paper ring involves a series of folds and unfolds.  After you've unfolded the paper, fold both sides of the paper once again to meet the central line of the paper. Basically, the horizontal end of each folded over side should now meet in the middle. #*Note that the paper is getting smaller and smaller each time you fold it! Now, fold the already folded paper once again, this time completely in half by folding the paper to the right. It will have a square like shape. You are creating the ring through a series of folds. They should meet at the center line.  Think of these folds as creating the tip of a paper airplane. That's how it should look. The end of the paper should now form a triangular point. You’ve got a few more folding steps to go before you have a true paper ring. Be patient! Pull the sides of the paper out, and pop up the top of the folded paper so that it forms the center of the ring. You may want to use a piece of tape or glue at the bottom of the ring to make sure that the ring holds together. Wear the ring or give it to someone you care about! They will most likely appreciate the thought and care you put into it.
A:
Choose a single piece of paper. Fold the paper in half horizontally. Fold the remaining rectangle. Unfold the paper again. Keep folding the paper. Fold both of the paper’s edges in. Tuck in the corners. Fold both lines to the center. Glue the ring together. You’re done!