Note: This post is sponsored by Frost Bank. Thank you for supporting the brands I love!
We’re half way through of the 30 Day Opt For Optimism Challenge with Frost Bank! It’s been a great refresher course in optimism for the kids and me, but I also love that the challenges have pushed us outside of our comfort zone, led to fun adventures, and encouraged us to meet new neighbors. Today, I’m sharing 3 tactics for inspiring optimism and a few of our favorite challenges so far.
Each of the daily challenges aligns with one of three tactics for inspiring optimism.
Three tactics for inspiring optimism
1. Fostering Generosity
Generosity is the ultimate win-win scenario for creating optimism. The recipients of generosity feel empowered, less alone and less isolated, and as the giver, you reap positive emotional benefits that beg you to do it again.
2. Building Community
Studies show that despite being more connected than ever, people feel more isolated than ever. Community and the personal connections that come from it are integral to optimism.
3. Changing Perspectives
Taking time for self-reflection, organization and goal-setting can provide a sense of clarity and ignite an internal fire that turns doubt into hope and intentions into action.
Our Favorite Challenges
Spend as much time outside – The kids and I love spending time outside, so we took this challenge seriously. We had a backyard picnic breakfast at 8am, scootered down the street for a swim in our neighborhood pool, had a picnic lunch in the backyard, and after naps, played in the sprinklers. We spent a total of 5 hours outside that day and the kids slept like rocks. I can’t wait to give this one another try in the fall!
Buy coffee for a stranger – It was a seemingly simple task, but so nerve wrecking to explain to the person behind you in line that you want to buy their drink. The older gentleman I bought coffee for was so thankful and surprised. He got out of his seat before I walked out to thank me again. After such a sweet experience, I’m challenging myself to do this one once a month!
Leave your phone behind and take a 20 minute walk – Like I said above, we spend a lot of time outside, but I almost always have my phone in my back pocket. It was surprisingly refreshing to focus on enjoying our time together instead of being interrupted by the notification after notification on my phone. This is another challenge I plan to incorporate into our daily routine.
Introduce yourself to a neighbor you’ve never met – We have lived on the same street for 5 years, and I still can not name all of our neighbors! Pathetic, right? We made it our goal to knock on a neighbors door we did not know and ask about their favorite treat. We met a sweet older couple at the end of our street and learned they both love brownies! We haven’t made and delivered those brownies yet, but we are excited to do it!
I love that the optimism challenge is teaching my kids the importance of generosity, community, and a positive perspective. After all, optimism is learned trait. Studies show that optimism is about 25% inheritable. How cool is that? Optimism really is contagious, pass it on! It’s not too late to sign up now, simply enter your email here and get the daily challenge delivered to your inbox.
Great detail and pictures you shared! Thank you so much for sharing this post.