In the fourth lesson of the '10 Principles for Your American Dream', Gillian Ortega explores the principle of positive self-expectancy. She emphasizes the saying "what you think about, you bring about" and explains how this principle can help you transform your life.

The Winner's Mindset:

Gillian underscores that the most noticeable quality of a successful person is their overall attitude of total optimism and enthusiasm. She provides examples of how winners' self-talk generally involves positive affirmations, such as "I was good today. I will be better tomorrow," as opposed to losers' self-talk, which tends to be negative, such as "With my luck, I was bound to fail."

Self-Appraisal Questions:

She then encourages you to conduct a self-appraisal by asking these important questions:

1. Am I generally optimistic about all aspects of my life?
2. Do I expect the best of health for myself?
3. When I am discouraged, am I indulging in a form of self-pity?
4. Do I see problems as potential opportunities?
5. Do I praise or criticize more often?

The Power of Your "Dash":

Gillian emphasizes the importance of overcoming self-pity quickly and making the most of your life. She introduces the concept of the "dash in the middle" - the time between our birth and death that we have control over - and encourages you to ponder on what you're doing with your "dash."

Starting Each Day Right:

She also discusses the significance of waking up happy and starting the day on a positive note. She suggests activities such as listening to motivational tapes, reading inspirational messages, and using positive self-talk throughout the day.

Towards the end of this lesson, Gillian provides practical advice on how to view problems as opportunities, maintain positive relationships, and handle tension. She quotes George Bernard Shaw saying, "The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them."