Focus on negative things, you'll feel bad. Focus on the positive (it's always there somewhere) and you'll feel better.
This is the basic tenet of "you get what you ask for." No, just asking for megabucks will not get you the lotto win when you believe the odds are impossible. Living "as if" you
are a winner (seriously, and truly believing that you are) gets you what you believe in. Believe life will be bad to you? It is. Believe life is great? It is. Therefore the quote: "If you believe you can or believe you can't, you're absolutely right."
Now for the next one (at least some of this stuff is generating a few replies on this dead thread):
Old Age: I've reached that age where my brain goes from "you probably shouldn't say that", to "What the heck, let's see what happens."
Will I Live to age 80? (Here's something to think about.)
I recently had to choose a new primary care doctor. After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, she said I was doing fairly well for my age. (I am 68+). A little concerned about that comment, I couldn't resist asking her, "Do you think I'll live to be 80?"
She asked, "Do you smoke tobacco, or drink beer, wine or hard liquor?"
"Oh no," I replied. "I don't do drugs, either!"
Then she asked, "Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?"
I said, "Not much... My former doctor said that all red meat is very unhealthy!"
"Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf, boating, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?"
"No, I don't," I said.
She asked, "Do you gamble, drive fast cars, or have a lot of sex?"
"No," I said.
She looked at me with one eyebrow raised and said, "Then, why do you even care?"