Meaning isn’t an immutable fact for you to learn, though, but an opinion for you to form. It's an idea that’s created when you integrate an event into your life story; when you make sense of it in the context of your past, present, and future, and gain new perspective on yourself or the world.

Often, that perspective changes with the passage of time, so meaning-making is a living process.

Delusional positive thinking ironically generates greater closed-mindedness in people. They must always be vigilant and block out potentially negative feedback or criticism of their beliefs, even if that negative feedback is life-or-death important to their health and well-being.