What's interesting about learned helplessnses is that it's NOT
   depression or sadness -- it's a kind of passive hopelessness.
   But it LEADS to depression/sadness/loneliness. It's taught to
   people too, it's making excuses, or blaming authority figures,
   or beating yourself up, or pinning some of your problems on
   someone else. "It's all so and so's fault!". The phrase, "Get er
   DUN!" is a cure. "Ye...s, you can!" is a cure. "You have the
   power within." "I can fix that." The little engine that could is
   the best example of the opposite of learned hopelessness. "I
   think i can, I think I can, I think I can." Encourage your dogs
   or cats to do tricks and give rewards and they'll be happy
   puppies and kitties. Encourage your kids to do things
   themselves, not because they HAVE to, but help them WANT to. The
   DRIVE has to come from WITHIN. Know a divorced per... "