as you all know, i recently participated in the Frost Bank, Opt for Optimism Challenge. so for 30 days, my inbox delivered a sweet little e-mail with a simple optimistic task. on one day i was asked to write a letter to someone i cared about, another i was asked to tidy up a small space. each day was different, and each day was a beautiful reminder that life can be as good as you make it and well, you can make it pretty good.
i’ve always considered myself an optimist, a glass half full kind of girl. however, after participating in this 30 day challenge, i’ve realized there is always room for improvement. especially as we get older, and our lives get more complicated. starting each day with a random act of optimism changed my perspective for the day. no matter what was on the agenda, the stresses and pressures seemed to magically ease. it was an incredible discovery.
i realized that through this process, my optimism button got a refresh, followed by an upgrade. the mindset of being optimistic is just a like a muscle. you have to work hard and train it to be its’ best. after a while my muscle memory kicked in, and my optimism muscles were slowly, but surely strengthened.
on a recent trip to bali, writing down 5 things i’m grateful for daily made my trip more memorable than i could have ever imagined. in fact, this was probably one of my favorite challenges. i made sure to write down a mix of things that were both pertaining to my current surroundings, as well as my life as a whole. something that i would still be grateful for when i’m not surrounded by lush forest, playful monkeys and dreamy swings. i wanted to make sure that i was grateful for simple over looked things, like health, a hearty meal, curiosity and so much more. it truly made my trip unforgettable. each day i felt renewed and so excited for what was to come.
something i am sure of, is that i want to keep training and challenging myself to be optimistic. i want my initial reaction to see what’s good in the situation and focus on that, instead of the opposite. i want to pick up the phone and make time for the people i care about. i want to recognize and be grateful for the abundance of blessings and joy that surround me daily. and i want to be aware of mental, physical and emotional wellness. although my inbox may no longer be sending me sweet little challenges daily, i know there a million and one ways to incorporate acts of optimism into my lifestyle. this 30-day challenge has shown me just how easy and effortless it can be to make a strong and positive impact on your life.
so let’s go out there and change the world, one optimist at a time. 🙂
I just love your outlook on life, girl! Totally inspiring me to make some changes of my own, too.
xx, Danielle
Optimism is the fuel that keeps us all going! Love this post, and that giant birds nest is fabulous!!!
XOXO
Cathy
Wow!! These pictures are amazing! You have such a positive vibe. Loved the idea of an email everyday with a little task to lead to happiness that day.
What an incredible challenge! Love that you are sharing and I think we all can use optimism in our daily lives!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
I love this post! And this place looks so awesome!! I need to be more optimistic!!
Xo, Steph
Firstly, these photos are absolutely beautiful! Secondly, this challenge is such an excellent idea! I could use a little dash of optimism in my life!
These photos are so gorgeous! I always try and be optimistic but being able to see it in your inbox each morning would be wonderful.
Oh my gosh these pictures are so stinking cute!!
Omg I love these photos! They’re so magical and joyful.
Megan | http://www.pipmegan.com
Love this !! And those photos are stunning !
Very inspiring! Love your photos!
I LOVE this challenge! What a great way to retrain your brain, especially handy for those busy months when you “don’t have time to” or when you’re dealing with the wintertime sadness that comes and seems to drain all the life out of you. I’ll definitely be picking up this habit ASAP!
I love and need to do this challenge! I tend to be more pessimistic so this is right up my alley
Adorable photos!