There are people that have remarkably positive outlooks on life and that allows them to do the daily grind that's necessary to achieve any semblance of change. A lot of people, seeing that you can actually progress in life, are moved by such personalities and find them inspiring.

That doesn't mean a person isn't sad, or can't get depressed, or not get seriously set back in life. It just means that pushing on and hoping for change can actually get you somewhere.