Problem: Article: Having a purpose in life can help you find happiness, as well as stay positive and optimistic. If you’re working toward your purpose, your successes have more meaning and your hardships won’t seem as difficult.  Journaling can help you find your purpose. Write your responses to questions like these:  What do I want in life? What’s most important to me? Where do I see myself in 5 years? 10 years? What am I really good at?   Consider how you enjoyed spending your time when you were growing up. This may connect to your purpose. Think about your personal beliefs. How could they give you purpose? It’s normal to be dissatisfied with parts of your life. For example, you might not like your job, or you might be having a fight with a sibling. Confront one issue at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Make a list of what you want to change, then prioritize it. Start with what’s most important for you. Much of what weighs on your mind comes from the past or the future. You can let go of these worries by living in the present. Focus on just this moment right now, allowing yourself to fully experience it.  Use your 5 senses to ground yourself in the moment. For example, smell the scents in the air, observe small details in the scene around you, and listen for the sounds you can pick out. Let go of distractions, such as your phone or earbuds. It’s normal to want to control every aspect of your life, but that’s an impossible goal. Trying to control everything actually makes you more stressed and less happy. Instead of trying to control every aspect of your life, focus on controlling the only thing you can -- your own reaction.  Let other people take care of themselves. Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks. Remind yourself that you can’t eliminate difficult moments from your life, but you can approach them differently. This may sound defeatist, but it’s actually the first step to improving your outlook. Don’t hold off on living because you’re waiting for the right circumstances. Your life is happening now! It’s okay to try to change your circumstances, as long as you focus on yourself and not others. You can change you, but not anyone else. You will encounter setbacks, as they happen to everyone. It’s easy to get tripped up by them, but don’t let them trap you in a mindset of defeat. Instead, view them as stepping stones on your path to success. Tell yourself, “I have to fail to learn the lessons I need to be successful.”
Summary: Find your purpose. Focus on changing one thing at a time. Live in the moment using mindfulness. Let go of your need for control. Accept your circumstances for what they are. Remind yourself that setbacks are temporary.

Problem: Article: In the location you’ve selected for your garden plot, use a small trowel or shovel to prepare your rows and hills, or small mounds of earth, for the gourd seedlings. If you’re planting many gourds at once, make sure to follow the seed packet spacing directions strictly. Gourds typically need to be planted several feet away from each other in order to thrive. Keep your rows near your trellis if you’re using one. Place each small seedling or seed into its own individual hill; don’t group several in the same space. Cover up the seeds with ½ inch of dirt, and cover seedlings to the base of the new growth. At planting, water the gourd seeds heavily so as to reduce the risk of transplant shock. Gourds like plenty of moisture, so make sure the soil is damp by adding water on a daily basis if necessary. Remove weeds as they sprout, as these will steal valuable nutrients and growing space from the gourds. If you’re using a trellis, as the gourds grow in size you can use a bit of string to secure them to the posts and give them plenty of room for growth.  Add a layer of mulch to the garden plot to lock in moisture and block out new weeds. Consider incorporating an equal-part fertilizer (like a 10-10-10 mixture) to the soil every few months. Give your gourds extra water when the weather is particularly dry or hot, to maintain a high level of moisture in the soil If you’re growing ornamental gourds, it is common for growers to train them into interesting shapes and structures. There are two general ways to train the shape of a gourd: bending over time, and by giving it a mold. You can slowly bend parts of a gourd as it grows, if you want a winding snake-like gourd in the end. You can also create a mold for your gourd by placing the small fruit inside a breakable vessel of some sort (like a vase). When the gourd has grown, it will fill the container and match its shape; you simply have to break the mold to remove it when done.
Summary:
Dig rows and create hills. Plant the gourds. Care for your newly planted gourds. Consider training ornamental gourds.