The trouble is that such predictions generally turn out to be unreliable.

But not to worry. I’ve got a better way for you to get some idea of what’s likely to happen to you in the coming years. Not with any specificity, mind you, but rather the color of it — is it going to be pleasant or unpleasant? Harmonious or troublesome? Fulfilling or frustrating?

All you have to do is ask yourself what it is that characterizes "human nature." Which means that as far as you’re concerned, do people tend to be hating, unkind, miserly, and uncaring? Or are people just naturally loving, kind, generous, caring, and compassionate?

Your answer will identify for you the flavor of your habitual state of mind.

If you think that people tend to be hating, unkind, and so on, then your habitual state of mind is one of pessimism.

However, conversely, if you think that people are naturally loving, kind, generous, etc., then your habitual state of mind is one of optimism.

And there’s a world of difference between the two.

OK, what does all that have to do with your future?

Well, from the physical, materialistic point of view, nothing. Directly, anyway.

But from the metaphysical, nonmaterialistic point of view, everything.

You see, if your thoughts tend to be positive, then good things are likely to happen to you. But if they’re negative, then bad things are likely to be your lot in life.

Now if you want scientific proof of what I just said, I can’t give it to you any more than I can kiss myself on the lips or gaze into my own eyes without benefit of a mirror.

So you’re just going to have to trust me on this one.

Think about it.