This post is sponsored by Frost Bank, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Challenge complete! Today I'm sharing a recap of Frost Bank's 30 Day Optimism Challenge I participated in including my favorite challenges and what I've learned the past month!

The past 30 days I've received a small challenge in my inbox focusing on either Fostering Generosity, Building Community or Changing Perspective. It was extremely motivating to start each day with a positive activity I could focus on. A few challenges that stood out to me recently included the following;

LEAVE YOUR PHONE BEHIND AND TAKE A 20 MINUTE WALK
Our minds are constantly distracted, and we rarely allow them to wander.  We can thank phones for that. When is that last time you sat in a restaurant waiting for someone and instead of staring at your phone you observed the people and atmosphere around you? I take a walk every day to clear my mind and I don't take my phone. It's amazing how many ideas and things I remember while taking a walk in complete silence. I consider it a form of mediation. and some of my most creative ideas are formed during these walks. The time I allow my mind to daydream helps me to problem solve and work through issues.

SEND SOMEONE FLOWERS YOU CARE ABOUT JUST BECAUSE
I didn't send flowers to anyone this day, but instead I took my new co-workers a sweet treat for everyone to share. I loved this challenge because it got me thinking of small acts of kindness I could do daily. It's the small acts that add up to make a big impact. They don't always have to be grand gesture to make someone's day.

WRITE DOWN A GOAL RELATED TO YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH
With additional income from blogging and selling some Apple stock, Alex and I were able to pay off the last bit of our credit card debt! When this challenge popped up in my inbox I started thinking about what our next goal was. I've been putting off starting a college fund for our kids because of the initial cost to open is pretty high so for this goal I decided to write down, "Open a college fund for each of my children by Christmas." Time is valuable and college isn't getting any cheaper. I pray I'm able to pay for my children's college, and allow them to enter in to the workforce debt free.

BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP TONIGHT, REFLECT ON WHAT WENT WELL TODAY
We can all agree most days don't go perfectly. A car cuts you off during your morning commute and slams on their brakes, you spill coffee on your outfit, your kid cries at school drop off, you accidentally burn dinner....you get the picture. There will always be something that doesn't go your way, but there will always be something that went well. It's up to us to reflect on what went well and focus on the positive vs. the negative.


Experts say optimism is largely a learned attitude because our mindset is malleable. Just like a muscle at the gym, we can strengthen it. Through deliberate focus and the support of others, optimism can become a decision that we all make many times, each and every day. I'm sad this challenge is over, and I have a feeling I'll be creating a similar type of activity in the future!

Thank you Frost for hosting such an inspiring challenge and allowing me to be a part of it. If you want to participate you can sign up here!