Can we really train ourselves to be more optimistic, or is our baseline happiness just wired in? I've tried gratitude journaling for three months and felt a slight lift, but my twin brother who did the same didn't notice any change. Some studies suggest genetics account for 50% of our happiness set-point, yet cognitive behavioral therapy shows lasting effects for anxiety. So, if someone is naturally pessimistic, can deliberate practice genuinely rewire their outlook, or are we fooling ourselves? I lean toward yes, but I've seen enough counterexamples to doubt it.