The pursuit of happiness is one that has driven generations of people, determined to discover the true secret to a happy life. What if, however, the secret to happiness isn’t a one-size fit all situation, and we need to focus our efforts based on our own individual personalities?

Happiness is a very broad term, focused on the idea of positivity in our lives, but this concept can be broken down into much easier to digest pieces. Take a moment to reflect on your current life. Are you experiencing more moments of happiness and joy than disappointment and upset? If so, what is it that brings a smile to your face on a daily basis. While there certainly are some habits commonly seen among people regardless of their personality, finding true happiness is an incredibly personal experience.

We need to find the things that drive positivity in our world, the moments of satisfaction and accomplishment. At the same time, each of us must also figure out what robs us of this happiness. If, for example, you are the kind of person who finds happiness in your social interactions, then loneliness may be the negative influence you most need to avoid. By looking at the personality traits associated with each of the zodiac signs, we can pinpoint what is likely robbing you of happiness in your life and how to correct it moving forward. This is an incredibly powerful tool, after all – who doesn’t want a life of joy and happiness?

Discover why you are truly unhappy and how to overcome it, according to your zodiac sign:

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Those born under the sign of Aries are determined, bold individuals who find happiness in the battle. They are always looking for their next big conquest, working on bettering their careers, relationships, finances, hobbies and more. If, however, they feel like they are stuck in a rut then unhappiness will quickly begin to set in. It’s at this point that they need to find something to reignite that fire within, something to throw themselves into 100%. They may already have something available to them, like a big project at work. If not, they should look at trying something that will give them this sense of satisfaction, like learning to play an instrument or joining a local sports league.

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)

This powerful workhouse is determined that they can do anything that is thrown their way, and they can do it better than those around them. The problem that comes up is that they aren’t the best at everything that they do, despite what they may believe. When they are hit with the hard realization that their job somewhere wasn’t perfect, then they begin to stew on the fact that they weren’t ‘enough.’ This quickly turns into a completely self-deprecating downward spiral as they pull away from everyone and everything, focusing on all the ways that they have failed in life. They can’t change the past and need to refocus their attention on the things they CAN accomplish in order to reset their mind.

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)

Living their life like a beacon of light, bringing joy and happiness to everyone that they meet, their optimistic outlook would bring nothing but happiness, correct? Unfortunately, while they appear to live their life with an incredible positive energy, this bubble of positivity can be burst by the smallest of disruptions. They can’t handle disappointment or bad news. When they find themselves wallowing in negativity, it’s time to slow down and take a step back. If they refocus on the things that make them smile they can rebuild their happy bubble.

Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)

Emotions are challenging for a Cancer, as their overly sensitive way of thinking means that they experience both incredible highs and heartbreaking lows. In fact, it doesn’t take much to flip the switch, creating a roller coaster experience. If they are feeling low, they often can’t put their finger on why, too caught up in the negativity of it all. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, they need to make this roller coaster work in their favor. If they step back and take a look at all the reasons they have to be grateful in their lives they will quickly find themselves in a much better place. They should try to maintain this focus on the positive to minimize the lows in life.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

The bold and confident Leo is driven by their view of the ‘greater purpose’ at work in their lives. They know that they have been sent here for a reason, and that is the true underlying reasons for their happiness. If, however, they find themselves feeling disconnected from this purpose then the unhappiness will begin to set in. They need to do some self-reflection, paying careful attention to where their passions lie. Refocusing on these passions will reignite their love for life.

Virgo (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

It should come as no surprise that the source of unhappiness for a perfectionist Virgo is the feeling that comes from falling short of their expectations. The problem with this is that their expectations are often impossible, meaning that they are fighting a losing battle. The path to happiness isn’t going to be an easy one, but it starts with letting go of these expectations just a little, living, instead, for the moment. Sure, the satisfaction that comes from succeeding is great, but don’t forget the happiness that comes from the journey and this perfectly imperfect life.

Libra (Sept 23 – Oct 22)

The biggest challenge that Libras need to learn to overcome is their lack of focus. They want to do everything and try everything, but this often means that they are continually starting something new without ever finishing anything that they do. When this realization hits, they will suddenly come down on themselves, feeling bad for the fact that they never feel the satisfying reward of success. If they make a list of everything they have recently started, they can refocus their attention on tying up a few loose ends. Completing even one or two things on this list will turn their feelings of happiness around entirely.

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

While the mysterious Scorpio often gives off the impression that they are completely comfortable in their own skin, free from the need for acceptance, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Deep down, they genuinely care about whether or not they fit in with the people around them and will often find themselves jumping into new situations just because it’s ‘what everyone else is doing.’ Unfortunately, this will often lead them into incredibly negative situations bringing disappointment and unhappiness into their world. They need to stand up and discover their worth free from outside acceptance. Find the happiness in their own lives, and they will begin to make connections with people who respect that.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

The adventurous life of a Sagittarius is one that is full of excitement and happiness at every turn. As long as they are out and living the life that they have before them, they will do so with a smile on their face. There are, however, going to be times in this life where adult responsibilities stand in the way of their carefree approach to life. As soon as they begin to feel trapped for any reason, unhappiness will start to sink in. They need to find a balance between seeking adventure and still maintaining responsibility in their lives. Once this balance is established, they will be the example of a life well lived for everyone around them.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Always focused on success, moving forward and the logical side of life, the main reason that Capricorns will often find themselves feeling unhappy is simply due to the fact that they fail to see the many reasons to be happy around them. When they set their sights on accomplishing something they develop a tunnel vision, and they certainly aren’t going to allow it to be derailed by something as unproductive as feelings and emotions! The best thing that they can do to promote happiness in their lives is simply to take time out of each day to just be in the moment and enjoy it.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

It’s fair to say that no one can accuse an Aquarius of not trying hard enough. After all, if anything they will push themselves too far. They have no concept of personal limits or the fact that they can’t take on everything under the sun. It doesn’t take long before this mentality leaves them completely overwhelmed with FAR more on their plate than they are capable of handling. It may be hard, but the only way to avoid unhappiness is to learn the power of the word ‘no.’ By limiting what they take on, they are increasing their chances of actually keeping up with the demands that they set for themselves, eliminating stress and, at the end of the day, bringing them happiness.

Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Over time, living their life in their perfect little dream world causes the line between their fantasy and reality to blur. Of course, caught in the middle, Pisces is completely unaware that this is happening. It isn’t until the people around them fall short of the goodness that they believe they are capable of, holding onto their vision of the perfect world, that everything comes crashing down. This is going to break their heart, disappointed in the less than ideal reality that we live in. While they may be grieving an image they created, the grief is very real. They need to allow themselves the opportunity to work through these feelings, cry if you need to, and then move forward.