I was clinically depressed for many years , and though I ' m now out I sometimes find myself slipping back in . A great exercise for myself at least is to sit and list a few positive things . Even if they ' re small , like the sunlight is pretty or I don ' t have a toothache or I ' m not sick . At any given moment there is an infinite universe of facts radiating out around us . Billions of times more information and meaning than our minds can handle . Even if the good only makes up 1 % of that field and the other 99 % is bad , that 1 % is still enough to completely fill our lives . Life is nothing more than a sequence of conscious moments . That consciousness is filled with sensory data , and thoughts . The thoughts are where depression and happiness come from . One huge component of depression is a habit of thinking negative thoughts , and with this habit comes practice , and skill . We get very very good at writing sad stories . Consciousness is filled with sensory data , and thoughts . The thoughts seem like they ' re not under our control but they do respond to intention and practice . And control of thoughts improves with practice just as surely as chopping onions improves with practice . In that 1 % of your reality that ' s good there are millions of positive facts . Enough to fill a lifetime of consciousness . I guarantee you if you practice every day you will get better and better at seeing positive things and it will become easier and easier and more automatic . Positive thoughts start out feeling empty and fake . But it ' s like doing a single pushup . It doesn ' t seem like it did anything , but behind the scenes it changed your biochemistry a little bit . Practicing control of the mind is like herding cats . Like filling a bucket with an eyedropper . The trick is to keep trying despite a lack of obvious progress . Are your muscles bigger after a single pushup ? Not really . It ' s the stimulation , and the work your body does that night while you ' re sleeping , that makes the difference . Happiness is a skill and must be practiced . I hope you had a good Thanksgiving . Stay warm .