There is only one way then! Just keeping myself busy in trying to excel and bring happiness. And of course, by keeping myself engaged in listening good music and reading good books. Loving your life partner and your family and see their smiling faces is yet another very effective way to keep happy.

Hope that helps. Thanks.

Having just gone through several tragedies in my own life I think I can relate to your feelings. Perhaps you are seeking "things" to make you happy. It will never be. This little strategy has helped me:
1. make a list of all the true blessings in your life (example: 3 beautiful, healthy children, parents who love me, a job)
2. look around you... there are others whose life is much worse (a friend's child died, a cousin with an incurable disease, neighbor lost his job)
3. I don't know if you are a "Christian" or of another faith, but I think it's important to have some spiritual belief system to help us through tough times. Consider visiting churches in your area
4. Each day be thankful and appreciative of what you do have, say it out loud to yourself.
I once had a teacher in high school who told me that we come to believe what we say... for instance she said she hated a class and everyday she dreaded it. Finally she began to say to herself I love this class, over and over until she finally did love it. It works on the same premise that a child becomes what you tell him he is everyday, (example: you continually tell a child they are lazy, they become lazy; if you tell them they are stupid they tend to believe it and stop trying to acheive)
Good luck and I hope that you find your blessings and happiness during this holiday season.

Just try to remember that no matter how bad it seems there is always someone out there who has it worse.

Life is a give and take. Give when you really have nothing to give and good things will come your way. Give whatever resources your have to others. This is where the real joy in life comes. Pretty soon, things will be going your way and you will have more to give. From there, it's a constant upward spiral. It's funny how karma works like that, but believe me it does!

I think that if you can be happy for others even when you are suffering then you are more likely to turn things around for yourself. I believe things like this go in cycles. For a while things go good for one person then it seems they hit a slump. If I do not become a joy sucker for those that are not in the slump I will come out a better person.