If we develop goals that give our lives meaning, and keep mentally and physically alert, we'll be happy. It's important to have dreams and take risks in life, no matter how humble the dreams and modest the risks.

Happiness seems to have relatively little to do with material well-being.

Happiness is the ability to feel satisfied with your life, to enjoy yourself and others, and to have fun.

three Ps of pessimism: Permanence, Pervasiveness, and Personalizing.

Third, optimists don't immediately shoulder all the blame. If their examination turns up external causes, they take these into consideration.

Second, they tend to view the misfortune as situational and specific, not as yet another manifestation of a long-standing and inescapable doom.

major attitudes that distinguish optimists from pessimists.2 First, they view downturns in their lives as temporary blips on the radar.

Optimism is the ability to look at the brighter side of life and to maintain a positive attitude even in the face of adversity.

Stress tolerance is linked with success because it brings with it the capacity to focus and weather storms without allowing unpleasant feelings or disturbing bodily symptoms to interfere with moving forward and reaching a goal.