Scientific American Mind : July 2009 : Observing Others' Self-Control Can Sap Your Own - How your peers' goals and efforts trick your brain - (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=waning-willpower&print=true)
Quote: "And neuroimaging studies indicate that mentally simulating another person’s experience triggers the same sensory and emotional brain pathways that are activated when one actually performs the action."
'Mentally simulating' sounds a lot like 'day dreaming' to me. This suggests that day dreaming about positive things/success (winning gold at the Olympics, winning a Nobel prize, finishing a marathon, being a powerful CEO, etc.) makes you feel more positive and successful, and that increases the likelihood you will become a positive and successful person.
'How I became successful by day dreaming', sounds like the perfect self help book, or perhaps even a cult. I can see the infomercial: 'Cures mild depression 70% of the time...'
