We keep a constant, running dialog with ourselves. We don't do it out loud. This conversation takes place in our minds.

Our inner voice (or self-talk) explains what's going on around us. This inner voice has a style and personality, too. Your explanatory style is either positive or negative.

The way you explain things to yourself determines if you're an optimist or a pessimist. 

Here's the self-talk of an optimist when something bad happens -

• "Don't worry, this won't last long." 
• "This sucks, but it doesn't make everything else suck!"
• "This doesn't mean I'm bad. This is just bad luck." 

Optimists view setbacks as temporary, isolated and external. 

Here's the self-talk of a pessimist when something bad happens -

• "I'm stuck with this forever". 
• "Nothing's going right! I'm totally screwed."
• "I can't get anything right. This is all my fault." 

Pessimists view setbacks as permanent, pervasive and internal.