Pages

Friday, April 17, 2015

O is for Optimism



If you’ve gotten to this point in the Challenge, it means you’re safely over the half-way hump and well on your way to joining the survivor ranks at the end of the month.

Although I intended to write all my posts before April set in, I was caught flat-footed because of a number of other projects I’ve been trying to straddle. At times, panic threatened to set in, but since I’ve done the Challenge for a few years, I was upbeat about the chances of being able to finish.

Optimism counts for a lot in anything we do. If we tackle challenges with a positive attitude and the feeling that we will be successful, then we’ve already won. Negativity tells us what we can’t do, but optimism says hey, I’m here, ready to make the most of each opportunity.

I know we’re on the side of having positive energy, right? So on we go to the next letter and the next ... you get the idea.

What are your strategies for keeping a positive frame of mind and believing for good things?

54 comments:

  1. No strategy really, just put my head down and push!
    I too have about 8 more posts to write, but I had a great head start.

    Bushman
    2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
    @jwb81074


    ReplyDelete
  2. Now in my third year of the Challenge, I really have learned to get the posts done before it starts so that I can tweak them as I go along. Often people's comments will inspire me. Besides, this year I've had a chance to visit way more blogs than I have in the past since I am not so focused on writing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are only a survivor if you finish otherwise your a failure and I have seen a few of those already

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is either my fourth or fifth year doing the challenge. I learned early on to get those posts done ahead of time. After all...you've got a whole year to think about what you want to write about.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Only strategy was tackling the X's and Q's first, once they are sorted, one can be optimistic about the rest. Finishing up the posts beforehand frees time up for visiting.

    Nilanjana

    ReplyDelete
  6. As an amateur musician, I was forced to plan ahead. Otherwise it's definitely Not pretty. lol Practice, practice, practice is my motto.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I planned mine in February. lol That took a load off.

    ReplyDelete
  8. IF you think you can or you can't you're right. Which works for me.

    ReplyDelete
  9. One of the ways to stay positive is to not get caught up in what other people do or don't do. Some people got their A to Z posts mapped out and written ahead of time. Others didn't. What's important is for a post to appear on the day it's supposed to appear. If you didn't get your posts written ahead of time, but you got it written anyway, that's the bottom line. We put too much pressure on ourselves. Do what works for you, and don't apologize about it. After all, this blog fest is supposed to be fun, not a competition.

    Precious Monsters

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's all about attitude, right? I only heard about the A-Z challenge this year right before it started, so to say the least, I am scrambling to post every day. However, I'm enjoying the challenge and hope to have a little planned ahead of time next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome! Great to know you're having fun with it.

      Delete
  11. We could all use a little more Optimism.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great post. It's always nice to read posts that put forward a positive outlook. Don't despair. You have company. I'm writing my posts on the day they're posted. I had way to much to do to write them in advance. Even my weekends are busy.

    ReplyDelete
  13. It's all about being positive and sometimes you just have to keep going.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm more optimistic now than I was at last week's end, that's for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  15. great o word!--I like to think I am mostly an optimistic person

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think it would be real nice to be a survivor

    ReplyDelete
  17. Everyone could certainly benefit from a little optimism, although it's not always easy to keep in mind. Thanks for the reminder!

    ReplyDelete
  18. We were let off of the A to Z "List'....
    we were listed in the Theme Reveal ... but Not the List...
    We are still doing the posts ( our topic is "Villains"....)
    this saddens me and will prevent me from ever attempting to join in on these "A to Z" things....
    Thanks for making us more miserable than we normally are...
    Dr. Theda , of Dr. Theda's Crypt...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please accept our apologies.
      I am not sure what has happened, but stay tuned.

      Delete
  19. Just keep coming back! Love this post... Sorry about Dr. Theda and being left off the list... Why didn't you tell us before?! We're only human... Just visited your blog, Dr. Theda, and left some messages as well as posting your site to my A to Z Board on Pinterest, and G+ Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for everything dear Lady... mistakes happen...
      We do appreciate your concern...

      Delete
  20. I think I might need a little more energy as opposed to optimism.

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

    ReplyDelete
  21. I don't know why I never thought to write the posts first! Well, still hanging in there, so it's all good. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I don't have a plan. I am not one of those 'glass half-full' people. Not a very optimistic person. But I'm working on it

    ReplyDelete
  23. Looking at future posts ready to go, listed on the calender makes me eager for bloggers to read them!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm just basically an optimistic person. I try to see the good in all things, all people. That doesn't mean I don't feel overwhelmed or ignored or unappreciated sometimes. But usually a little extra rest goes a long way on clearing that up. My parents instilled deep inside me a sense of self worth that carries me through, even when all seem against me.
    Visit me at: Life & Faith in Caneyhead
    I am Ensign B of Tremps' Troops
    with the A to Z Challenge

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Joy .. if I commit to something - I know I'll do it .. sometimes I wing it - but try and keep it as 'professional' as possible ... and keep a peaceful face and mind! Fortunately I am positive ... cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  26. The world may not be perfect, but keeping a positive attitude helps me get through each day.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi Joy!!

    Here are my thoughts on remaining optimistic, even though I'm running frantically behind the A to Z train which is far ahead of me... *huffing and puffing*

    All you open-minded, outstanding, outrageous, obliging bloggers and the obstinate, obnoxious oddballs too.
    If only we could continuously overflow with optimism, omit negativity and operate in the original and organised way we did when the challenge began…
    Ooopsy Doopsy… I don't think that's gonna happen though…
    Need something to keep you going?
    Breathe deeply and ——- Om…. om… om… om… om… om…

    Happy O-Day!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'll drive off that bridge when I get to it.

    ReplyDelete
  29. enjoyed the comments too - I'm smiling! This weekend will see me getting a bit more up to date with posts. It's been going fine so far with those pre-scheduled ones, but have some more to do ... ah well, the weekend is upon us for those who've lagged behind. Be positive and do!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow. So glad I read these comments. I'm a newbie to A to Z and I hope to do it again next year. I am just writing as I go. What a great idea to work on them ahead of time and be able to tweak and make a good post!!! I write for fun so there is no great pressure on myself to do my best writing. It is just fun and cathartic. Learning a lot. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I needed this right now! I'm trying to step up my freelance writing career and I keep wondering if I'm in over my head.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Negative thoughts take us nowhere but positive thoughts work wonders!

    http://imagery77.blogspot.com/2015/04/it-took-many-by-surprise.html

    Hank

    ReplyDelete
  33. This is the first time I do the challenge and I just take one day at a time.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I am looking forward to the end!

    ReplyDelete

Commenting is now open to all, but will be monitored for spam, ads, abusive language, or anything that is not relevant to the interests of the A to Z Challenge--Please respect this blog space and its users Captcha temporarily added because of 12 spam comments in ONE day!

Please leave your opinions and feel free to ask anything that is on your mind. Irrelevant anonymous comments and spam will be deleted.