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[rlbell]

First thought: Learn to smile. Once you have tried it a few times in the mirror, smile at anyone who makes eye contact with you. If smiling at random strangers discomfits you, start with just smiling at friends, family and coworkers. If challenged about why you are smiling, just answer that you are trying to brighten up their day (which is a laudble enough goal, in its own right). People will often smile back, which shows that even a negatively self-absorbed person can spread happiness and joy.

Second thought: Be thankful, even if all that you are thankful about is that life is not fair, so you know that you do not deserve any of the negativity that so troubles you. Be thankful for each day. Thankful that you woke up. Thankful that it is a beautiful day (or thankful that you can see that it is not).

The really hard technique that I use to fight melancholy*, so I can say from experience that it works:

Happy is as happy does.

If you present a hearty sense of indomitable good cheer, while admitting that it is occasionally forced, you will eventually posess a hearty sense of indomitable (if occassionally forced) good cheer.


* my personal cross is that I have a degree in electrical engineering, but work as a semi-skilled general labourer( a job that I am thankful to have). Because it pays all of my bills and still gives me time with my family, I have every right to be happy, otherwise.