An 'American Idol' Star Shares 10 Tips for Happiness

Melinda Doolittle's Tips to Get You to Life's Next Level

By Melinda Doolittle

Fans of Melinda Doolittle know her as the third place finalist on the sixth season of "American Idol." Not only did Doolittle (or Mindy Doo, as she's also known) wow viewers, but she became the clear favorite of judge Simon Cowell--a major feat!

Doolittle is also an author, out with a new book "Beyond Me: Finding Your Way to Life's Next Level," which is full of life lessons and advice, many passed along to her from her mother, that have helped her along her journey.

Here she shares 10 tips for rising above tough times and becoming a happier person.

Be the Good Thing

I remember hearing my pastor's wife talk about a verse in the Bible that says a man who finds a wife finds a good thing. She explained to the women in the room that our course of action was to "be the good thing." Her advice really made me think. I had determined that I was looking for a Cliff Huxtable. I wanted someone who thought outside the box, who always made me laugh and smile, someone who made love fun. I had even written these qualities in a special notebook. However, after hearing the pastor's wife say those words, I decided to make a new list—for myself. What kind of woman do I need to be to deserve a Cliff? Naturally, I need to be a Claire: levelheaded, successful, and able to drop my guard at a moment's notice and just have fun.

Keep Dreaming

One of the best lessons I learned from my experience on "American Idol" is to keep dreaming big. I never intended to audition for the show, but I'm so glad I did. I really feel that the experience forced me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to see another way God could take my dreams and make them bigger than I could ever imagine. Because of my "American Idol" journey, I have become stronger, and I am much more confident that performing as a solo artist is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing right now. And I want to pass that sort of confidence on to others. My goal is to encourage as many people as possible to dare to step out of their comfort zones and experience the very best life has to offer.