Can having certain qualities lead to a better life, and how do we attain these.

I have become interested in the philosophy that possessing certain qualities can lead to a good life. For example, the idea that good or sucessful people possess virtues, which are often the golden mean of two extremes of character. I just wondered if people thing this is actually true and if it is, how to we attain these characteristics. Can we do it through looking at our friends, virtues, or through consuming great art, or speaking to people? Can we even attain these characteristics at all? I sometimes feel you are stuck with the character you have since childhood, at best you can take the edge of perceived bad traits, but I don't think people can truly change. If good virtuous characteristics lead to a good life, it could be quite tragic if we can never truly attain them.