Jennifer Aniston recently reflected on the challenges she has faced in her personal life, highlighting how she navigated difficult times and emerged stronger. Speaking candidly about her journey, the actress explained that she had to make a choice: “Either I’m going to surrender into bonbons and living under my covers or I’m going to go out there and find a creative outlet and thrive, and that’s what I did.”

Aniston acknowledged that she has publicly gone through tough moments but emphasized that she has no regrets. In an interview for The Hollywood Reporter, she opened up about how her life post-Friends unfolded in ways she hadn’t initially anticipated. While her career flourished beyond her expectations, it was her personal life that took unexpected turns.

“The career was one thing. I didn’t know what was coming, and that’s been nothing but a blessing. But it was more personal stuff that I had expectations about, and that sort of shape-shifted,” she shared. “That was what was jarring, that we all had an idea of what the future was going to be, and we were going to go hunker down and focus on this or that, and then it all just changed overnight.”

Despite the challenges, Aniston maintains a positive outlook, believing that every experience, whether good or bad, has contributed to making her the person she is today. “Everything’s a blessing if you’re able to look at life’s ups and downs in that way. And if it all hadn’t happened, I would not be sitting here, the woman that I am,” she said.

She credits the strong, supportive people in her life for helping her navigate the more difficult moments. “I’ve had a godsend of support surrounding me over the years—so many evolved, positive people,” she said.

Reflecting on her past, Aniston revealed that she grew up witnessing someone remain stuck in a victim mentality, something she was determined never to emulate. “I also grew up watching someone sit comfortably in victimhood, and I didn’t like how it looked. I knew that this person was giving me an example of what I’d never want to be, and I will never ever be that,” she asserted. “I think it’s toxic, and it erodes your insides and your soul. And listen, is it a sliver of an annoyance to have to publicly go through dark shit in front of the world? Yes, it’s an inconvenience, but it’s all relative.”

Rather than allowing difficult times to define her, Aniston chose to channel her energy into creativity. “I had a choice to make,” she reiterated. “Either I’m going to surrender into bonbons and living under my covers or I’m going to go out there and find a creative outlet and thrive, and that’s what I did.”

She humorously pointed out that her creative outlet at the time happened to be the 2006 romantic comedy The Break-Up, which she starred in alongside Vince Vaughn.

Aniston’s personal life has been the subject of public fascination for decades. She was married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005, and while their relationship ended, the two have since rekindled their friendship. Pitt even attended her 50th birthday celebration in 2019, and the former couple shared a friendly moment at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Aniston later married actor and screenwriter Justin Theroux in 2015, but the two separated in 2017.

Despite the public’s ongoing curiosity about her love life, Aniston has been open about her current perspective on relationships. Speaking to PEOPLE in June, she admitted that she isn’t interested in marriage but hopes to find a great partner. “Oh God, I don’t know,” she said when asked about the possibility of getting married again. “It’s not on my radar. I’m interested in finding a fantastic partner and just living an enjoyable life and having fun with one another. That’s all we should hope for. It doesn’t have to be etched in stone in legal documents.”

When it comes to modern dating, Aniston remains old-fashioned. She firmly ruled out the possibility of using dating apps, saying, “Absolutely no. I’m going to just stick to the normal ways of dating. Having someone ask you out. That’s the way I would prefer it.”

Now, Aniston says she is in a place of peace and gratitude. “I’m in a really peaceful place. I have a job that I love, I have people in my life who are everything to me, and I have beautiful dogs. I’m just a very fortunate and blessed human being,” she said.

Her journey, marked by highs and lows, has ultimately shaped her into the resilient, self-assured woman she is today. Whether in her career or personal life, Aniston continues to embrace life with positivity, proving that even through unexpected changes, one can find purpose, joy, and success.