The optimist believes that bad events have specific causes, while good events will enhance everything he does; the pessimist believes that bad events… - Martin E P Seligman

The theory clearly predicts that in the classroom and, as we shall see in the next chapter, the playing field, success will not necessarily go to the most talented. The prize will go to the adequately talented who are also optimists.

Try to reframe the provocation: Maybe he’s having a rough day. There’s no need to take it personally. Don’t act like a jerk just because he is. He couldn’t help it. This could be a testy situation, but easy does it.

If you want to blame your parents for your own adult problems, you are entitled to blame the genes they gave you, but you are not entitled — by any facts I know — to blame the way they treated you.