So, this isn't a guide on how to cure depression. As they say, if you can't produce your own neurotransmitters, store bought is fine. If you need medication and a therapist, there is no shame in that. Some of these might help, though, so give them a try.

1:
Every few months or so, just sit down, relax, light some incense, and clear your mind. Comfortable?? Good, now take a pen (fountain pens work best) and write down all of the things you are grateful for. the world is wonderful and full of all kinds of happy things. Maybe you're grateful for your parents, maybe you have a toy you like. Maybe you're just happy to have clean air to breathe. Write it all down, and pin it just over your bed to be a daily reminder of everything wonderful and good in the world.

2:
Surround yourself with pets. They don't have to be animals, there is nothing wrong with a desk garden. Taking care of other living things brings a sense of joy like no other. Lavender plants are happy, cats and dogs are happy. I personally have three cats named Ulysses, Prometheus, and mittens.

3:
Take care of your body and it will take care of you. Take 15 minutes out of the day to do something active. I like to jog at the beach, some people I know prefer to lift weights, others like to go on long walks. All of these things are wonderful. It's also good to eat on a regular schedule. I prefer to eat four small meals a day, usually about a quarter of a block of tofu. It's important to be regular, as well to pick healthy foods. It may be worth the time and money to visit a nutritionist as well, they're smart fellows.

4:
Do something. We all have hobbies, goals, aspirations. Don't be intimidated by them. You don't have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great. This is another thing to spend fifteen minutes to an hour on. Play a sport, draw something, write a short story. You know what you like. Make sure you can reflect on it and be proud of the time you spent.

5:
Do something now that you will thank yourself for later. Study for that test, give your mom a flower, take a bubble bath. I do all of these things about weekly, so I can always feel like I'm a step ahead of life.

6:
Congratulate yourself. This can be the hardest one to do sometimes. Don't ever tell yourself that you haven't done well enough, think about the happiness that what you do now can bring you tomorrow. If you don't like the paragraph you wrote, or the drawing you drew, you can always do a better one tomorrow. For now, you did well, and you deserve to know that.