Optimistic even in Challenging Times

Optimism is a choice.

You can choose to be optimistic or have an outlook that is bleak and fading. I have chosen optimism, but it most definitely isnt an easy route to go in our society and world.

We live in a fallen world that wants to constantly bring you "down to reality." I am sure you have had people, circumstances, and events in your life that make you feel less optimistic and like there is no hope in sight. Recently I have felt those challenges in my position of sales.

In sales we are up, we are down, we are stagnant and sometimes we hit a point where it seems like NOTHING we do is working. You make your calls, have an incredible presentation, and still fall flat on the bottom line. Some might call it a cold streak.

In baseball, hitters go through these streaks - but even the BEST hitters only hit 3 out of 10 times up to the plate with hundreds of appearances at the plate throughout the course of a season.

As some of you might feel, I wish I could catch a break. I wish it was just a steady stream constantly. Some of you might even have that steady stream and I hope that you are practicing the art of thankfulness! That is a rare trait I am finding. Be thankful!

Most of us though are like hitters - we have an incredible streak followed by a dry season. For those folks, like myself, consider the hard times to be optimistic that you are about to turn the corner and back into the the land of blessing.

I recently was talking to a friend that described it as this.

You are making a trek up a mountain with plenty of hardships on the way up. You see the end in sight, you fixed your focus and are fighting to the top. Though nothing seems to be going right on the way up, you keep pushing. Then when you finally get to the top,you see all that is waiting for you after the journey up the hill. Your prize is waiting for you just at the top of this struggle. Keep fighting, keep pushing.

In addition, when you reach the top, take a look over the edge and say, "thank you" for the hard times. Because in those hard times were lessons. In those hard times was personal growth and knowledge that only would have been learned through the struggles and storms.

Choose optimism despite the struggles and learn something about life and yourself along the way.