Outrageous Optimism Challenge!

[Moustachienne]

There's been a bit of talk that pessimism might be outweighing optimism on these forums.  Not the can do attitude that many of us come here for - http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/10/03/the-practical-benefits-of-outrageous-optimism/

But optimism, like many good things, begins at home.  I'm challenging myself to some short term and long term optimism.  Anyone else want to join in?

Specifically:

Over the next few weeks at work I need to handle a couple of very complex situations and I've feared not pulling them off.  No more!  I'm going to dig in with outrageous optimism and I will prevail!  :)

Longer term, I'm not going to be shaken off my retirement date of May 2017.  It will require more conscious attention to some preparation details but I will resist both the passivity and fear that can lead to OMY after another.  Motivation even higher after a friend has just told us he's pushing his date out beyond next June.  And he was so excited a few months ago but ...pessimism has crept in.

Frankly, just saying "outrageous optimism" to myself pulls my shoulders back and lifts my head.  :)

Good luck to others!

[mrpercentage]

sure

Im going to UBER my investing back up to the amount it was before I bought the new car. I need about 5-6 hrs a week to do it. I work nights so I will do it when my family is sleeping on my days off so it doesn't rob me of family time. Less time wasted staring at a TV or this screen.

There is usually a way if you are flexible and its important to you. When times get rough you usually find out whats really important. I remind myself family is first. To quote city slickers "One thing, just one thing. You stick to that and everything else doesn't mean shit."

Occasionally I find myself off course from my goals. I use self reflection, check my compass, and get back on course. Thats optimism in my book. I think I will read Old Man and the Sea again.

[Britan]

Yeah! I like it!

I'm not going to let the anxiety brain weasels keep winning. Life is awesome RIGHT NOW and there is so much I can do (and am doing) to make it EVEN BETTER!

Perhaps it's more about gratitude than optimism in my case, but I sometimes lose context. "Wah, I can only save X amount a month what if I don't reach my goals?"  Well Im not fleeing a war torn country, I don't have major genetic health problems, I have a (nice!) grocery store in my neighborhood. I have people I love and who love me. Life is really quite excellent!

Sometimes just having that context and attitude about life makes it easier to turn down the frivolous stuff and therefore easier to be optimistic about reaching my goals!

(Also shout out to mrpercentage for the proverbs signature)

[FrugalFan]

Yes, I need to remind myself of how good things are RIGHT now and how I have the power to make them even better. I am going through a funk and I need to get out of it!

[Moustachienne]

I've been applying Outrageous Optimism (OO) as consistently as possible and I'm really enjoying the effects.  Mostly it helps me not to let small negatives along the way colour the whole.  We have a tendency to think that the negative is the truth and it's been fun to choose the opposite.  Glass half full or glass half empty - it is a choice.