Book excerpt: There is evidence that our search for happiness can trigger depressive feelings. Why? Striving for something as elusive and unattainable as happiness causes chronic (unconscious) disappointment. In this book you will learn what happiness actually means and how dissatisfaction can set the stage for the dark mindset we call depression. We do not know as much as we think about how one develops a depressive mindset, nor how to achieve a lasting sense of happiness. Happiness is Depressing is a coaching handbook to give you a meta-perspective on these topics and to coach you from the darkness to zest for life. Ultimately this is the story of how the experience of a coach leads to the investigation and transformation of depression. Happiness is Depressing answers two main questions: 1. How do you move from feeling depressed to zest for life? 2. How can the coaching approach create effective models for profound change with depression? Who should read this book, and why? Do you feel down? Are you experiencing pessimistic and depressive thoughts? Do you feel down, lonely or overwhelmed? Is feeling happy difficult for you? This book offers guidance, support and coaches you to zest for life. Are you a coach or therapist? Happiness is Depressing is also a manual for coaches and therapists. It is written from the perspective of the client and the coach, providing you with essential knowledge about the mindset of depression. This book offers the means to shape zest for life for depressed and other clients. You can use the new techniques directly in your daily practices. Are you a relative of a depressed loved one? You will want to read this book because it will give ideas for how to support your loved one.