Most of us hold the—conscious or subconscious—belief that change for the better is much more difficult than change for the worse. New research shows that that perception is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you underestimate the chances of your success, you are less likely to succeed. The good news, therefore, is twofold: not only are you more likely to be successful than you probably imagine, but even just knowing this simple fact boosts your optimism and with it your chances of making positive, permanent changes.