How does one keep themself happy?

One doesn’t because that’s a waste of time. One focuses on why one feels dead on the inside and tries to find solutions. And finally, there is no reason to ‘constantly be happy’ – there are other emotions and ways of being out there that can have some happy thrown in.

Deep breaths, keeping your head up (not looking down), dressing well, and smiling…

that, and what @Simone_De_Beauvoir said ^

@Simone_De_Beauvoir I know why I feel dead inside but I don’t want it to be viewed by others. I tried smiling but can’t find a reason to really be doing so.

The only reason to be smiling is to give the impression of being happy and confident… I wasn’t suggesting it as a way to actually become happy, that’s a whole different process.

@harple I’m not meaning to actually become happy though, I just want to appear as happy and confident even though im not in the inside at the moment.

It is very hard to fake an outside appearance. Why do you feel the need to do that?

You could simply say that “things are not right in my personal life right now and it has me a little down” if someone asks.

Therapy is your answer.

Everyday cannot be on “top of the mountain”...we have to go through some valleys to be appreciate the goodtimes. Very few people are happy all the time.

If you are sad all the time, as @jjmah said, therapy would be your answer.

@BoBo1946 Boo. Therapy can’t solve the unsolvable. There are problems that have no answer. The only thing therapists can teach is how to live with or cope with problems that haven’t an answer. I’d rather read. It’s cheaper and you don’t have to spill your guts for a price.
I met a wonderful NYC counselor who said the usual thing a patient does in therapy is rehash everything that’s going on and he , at least, thinks that is not good . He recommends doing something you’re not doing now . Like, take up a sport, a musical instrument-just anything to change your environment.

Perhaps keeping oneself content is more of what you are looking for? Bad things happen to everyone so its impossible to remain happy unless you have some sort of mental disorder. Just be able to live without regretting anything, if you can do that, you can remain fairly content throughout your life.

@Aster What you say is true, but therapy can give the client some great tips and ideas that a good professional (not like the one you met) can recommend.

@Aster could not agree more, but that shouldn’t deter people from trying to find a solution. Just giving the person what i thought was sound advise.

One technique is to determine whether your thoughts and feelings are justified. Are you overreacting to a real, but manageable problem, or are you reacting to an imaginary or self-created problem? If that is the case the antidote is to simply act the opposite of how you are feeling, but to do it in a fully committed manner. In other words, throw yourself wholeheartedly into acting the opposite of how you feel.

If your thoughts and feeling are justified, then you have a real problem to solve or accept. That requires a different process.

Good advice, guys, but I have this feeling that I can anticipate what a therapist would say before he/she says it. One thing they’re trained to do is let the patient come to a particular conclusion himself. And they have ways to do that. So, instead of saying, “you should move out of your parents’ house if it’s that bad” they’ll say, “have you thought of moving?” or ,“what can you think you can do to separate yourself from your parents?”
maybe I lived with a psychologist too long

I think that knowing why you feel dead is a good sign. It sounds like deep sadness is a possibility here, rather than a depression that is hard to explain why it is occuring. My advice is to first know that these things usually get better, there is an end to your pain in sight. Almost everyone I know who has gone through a loss whether by death, break up, or illness that changes your own abilities, typically takes 4 to 6 months to begin to feel somewhat normal again. I don’t know what you have been through, so I am just throwing some stuff out there. Also, when I say break up, I am not talking about dating someone for a few weeks, but long term relationships and marriages take months to feel back to normal typically.

Now, about feeling happy. For me acknowledging happy moments, pausing to be in the moment, causes a feeling that time is suspended and the happy moment is extended. This focus on what is good and enjoyable can help you get perspective, and have something to look forward to. Focusing on simple things that bring you joy. For me, I can have moments of glee just being outside in the warm sun observing the blue skies, grateful it is not 25 degrees outside. Or, someone who appreciates my help makes me feel good. It can be tough when you are depressed to enjoy anything, I know that, but since you want to feel better, that is a good first step.

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I have only two thoughts to add (or amplify) to the above comments. One, I think some therapy might open your mind to some new possibilities, and perhaps it’s best not to pre-decide what he/she will be like, and two, putting on a positive face and acting more positive might actually lead you to feeling more positive. Notice I said positive, not happy. Happy is not a continuous state, but positive can be.

Fake it til you make it.
Take good care of yourself physically, good food, exercise, plenty of rest, lat low on any alcohol which is a depressant.

Read inspirational and spiritual material, gotta get your head and heart and feelings integrated.

Simply knowing something on an intellectual level is not enough, you have to FEEL it deeply within the core of your being!

Take plenty of time to yourself, and, yes, if you are not feeling better in a few months seek outside attention.

@Aster We’ve all thought we could anticipate what a therapist would say – and sure sometime they do say those things but not only does it come across to you in a different way, you listen more and some times the things they say are new to you.

@jjmah Therapy for a broken heart?

@silvermoon they can help. Time it the best healer. Believe me, i know.

Meditation, yoga, and mindfulness practice. Do that enough, and you won’t even be able to think of this question.

Work on feeling happy and confident on the inside. It will show on the outside.

Love for people brings me happiness.

Your feelings are important and cannot be ignored. You cannot tell just everyone how bad you feel inside but you should try to find someone you can tell. Either a good friend or a relative.