Page 179 - Psychology of Money - Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness-Harriman House Limited (2020)

Through his computer, Hawking told the interviewer how excited he was to
sell books to lay people.
COBACOBA

“Are you always this cheerful?” the Times asked.

“My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since
then has been a bonus,” he replied.

Expecting things to be great means a best-case scenario that feels flat.

Pessimism reduces expectations, narrowing the gap between possible
outcomes and outcomes you feel great about.

Maybe that’s why it’s so seductive. Expecting things to be bad is the best
way to be pleasantly surprised when they’re not.

Which, ironically, is something to be optimistic about.

Now, a short story about stories.