Everyone’s constantly looking for a quick fix to depression and sadness. Unhappiness comes from a deep place within. It can’t be fixed quick with a “band-aid.”

Happiness can be defined as a state of well-being. When someone is happy, it is because they have made themselves happy If you are going to experience true happiness, you have to stop relying on others to make you happy. That will never happen.

Your happiness will only come from you. Unless and until you accept this, you will probably only experience vastly fleeting moments of unreal happiness.

Here are some things you can do to become a happier person:

Smile. When you smile, whether you feel like smiling or not, you are relaxing your facial muscles. I’m sure you’ve heard it said hundreds of times, but it bears repeating again: You use fewer muscles to smile than you do to frown. So turn your frown upside down…and you just might start wanting to smile.

Change your attitude. A pessimist will never feel happy. They can’t. It’s impossible. So it is extremely important that you keep your attitude on the up-and-up. Don’t let life’s little situations drag you down. Find a way to keep a positive, cheerful attitude, despite what might be happening to you right now.

Use positive affirmations. I say this a lot, but I say it frequently because I believe in it. Positive affirmations can truly aid in shifting your mindset. If you are having a rotten day, get out those positive affirmations and repeat them until you feel your attitude shifting.

Sing. Music lifts the heart like almost nothing else will. Tune in the radio to your favorite station or pop in your favorite CD and sing along.

Help someone else. Helping others will always bring you great happiness and fulfillment. There is no other feeling like the feeling you get when you help someone. It’s wonderful! Do something for someone else out of the kindness of your heart, not expecting anything in return.

Get rid of something. For some people, clutter rules their life and creates great chaos. Clean out your closet and donate the best clothes and shoes to charity. Goodwill stores are a great place to donate your unwanted/unused items. Letting go of things you’ll never use will make you feel lots better. You’ll also learn to appreciate the things you do have even more.

Forgive. Did you know that one of the biggest causes of unhappiness in a person’s life is because they simply choose to never forgive? It’s true! Holding a grudge against another person will eat away at your soul. It will cause you to lose out on a lot of happiness and fun. Don’t hold a mistake over someone’s head forever. Forgive and move forward.