Would you give a little more of yourself to help meet the needs of others?

By: Jackie Monroe

Early this week I found this heart-warming video of a pet photographer who realized a need around her and decided to take action.  Basically, she figured that if shelters and animal rescues had better photo options to place on their websites of the animals they were trying to help get adopted, maybe they would have a higher number of adoptions!

Her wonderings ended up being true, and in one instance, a rescue's adoption rate went up 100%!  Check out this short video highlighting the idea, implementation, and after effects. 

Optimism Tip of the Week: We can't say "Yes" to every need, want, or cry for help. However, as optimists, we do have the ability to open our eyes, see the need for change around us and act to benefit the causes that mean the most to us. 

We'd love to know: What cause is near and dear to your heart? What do you give of yourself to help? Service can be defined as "action that benefits another."  How are you serving on a daily, weekly, monthly basis? Let us know by leaving a comment below! 

A Potpouri of Optimism from the Clinton Global Initiative

Optimism abounds in these messages from former President Bill Clinton and other international leaders of the Clinton Global Initiative.  Check out this family of videos and be inspired to make a difference in the world.  The 2011 International Meeting of the Clinton Global initiative begins today and runs through September 22. 

Ten Tips for Parents to Kick Start Positive Self-Worth for Going Back to School

By Dr. Russ,

Your children have now been back to school for at least a week.  For the first week or so there are few challenges to self-worth.  Kids are nice to each other, behave themselves in class, and there are few academic expectations.  When the second week starts, the teacher starts to expect more, kids get bored and start to act up in class, and some are annoyed with some kid who talks too much or too loud or who is a little different. 

Like the first refrain of the kids song of yesteryear about what happens after you die: 

• All goes well for about a week, and then your coffin begins to leak.

Don’t worry this blog is about optimism, but like the protection of a cheap coffin that wears off quickly, so does the protective power of that back-to-school honeymoon period wear off after a week or two.

Your child fails his quiz, gets reprimanded by assistant principal, teased at recess and bullied after school.  The threats to self-worth start to mount and if not counteracted can lead to some significant problems that affect learning as well as social and emotional well being.   

We probably cannot shield the child from all of these threats to esteem, nor would e want to except  of course for the more severe threats

Here are ten tips for parents to start using right now to bolster and build resileinnt self-worth during the first month of school.

Ten tips to Kick Start Back-to-School Self-Worth

1. Be open and let your child know to expect difficulties.
2. Let them know that learning to overcome and solve problems born of difficulties is one of the great joys of life. 
3. With each solved academic, social or emotional problem comes an improved sense of satisfaction with self, competence and confidence.
4. Let them know that some children will try to make themselves look smarter or more able than others, but that most of the time this is more “show than go.”
5. Continually emphasize that it is the child who tries the hardest who ultimately succeeds the most.
6. Teach them they can learn to be smarter in any subject if they just work harder.
7. Ask them about who are some of the less fortunate classmates.  Ask about what is going on with these classmates.  Then ask them how they might help them with the classroom issue.  Teaching the child when and how to put other’s needs ahead of their own is critical to self-worth.  And, then having them actually put an action plan in place to help another child grows the child’s sense of worth.
8. Make sure you talk with your child about taking on difficult tasks, whether in extra credit for academics, trying out for sport or trying something new.
9. Always talk to your child in a matter-of-fact non-judgmental manner and keep them focused on the problem to be solved not on self-evaluation of good or bad.
10. Self-worth is built day-by-day and moment-by-moment as the child continually tries to solve problems and with each problem solved builds one more kernel of self-confidence.  Teach them that failure is only an opportunity to become even more masterful, but they must keep trying

Digging Ditches for more Optimism?

It's hard to believe, but this week we present our 15th Podcast of Optimism!

This week, we hear from Dr. Russ about a recent worldwide leadership summit he took part in, presented by Willow Creek Church. 

Dr. Russ takes a few moments to explain how two speakers in particular reinspired him to look around for ways to make a difference in our community.  Some people take drastic measures to make a difference. Some people start small and experience exponential growth. Others from the past (the story out of Kings) remind us that obedience and follow thru are key.

As optimists, we can dream (and live!) the impossible dream...especially if we are plugged in to our spiritual source--our White Nile, if you've been following along recently!

So pick up your shovel, start digging some ditches, and get inspired to make a difference! Don't get the reference? You'll just have to listen to the podcast!

Click here to listen.

Feeding the Hungry Fuels Optimism

By Dr. Russ,

Most people who are reading this blog are looking for some mental fuel to keep themselves going in the face of life circumstances.  But, what if you not only needed mental, but also physical fuel to keep going day-to-day?  Hunger in America is a reality!

The headline on the page 3A of USA Today, May 17, 2007, says, “Senior hunger risk is growing.”  Mississippi has the highest rate of individuals at risk of hunger at 12.3%, and South Carolina is a close second at 9.8%.  According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, 10.1% of seniors are hungry.  Such hunger is occurring in the midst of a country with some of the largest and most fertile farmland in the world. The fact that these numbers exist, that there is approximately 10% unemployment nationwide are neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but are the circumstances with which people must deal. 

Today I did my monthly duty to help the homeless and poor have a meal by volunteering to serve at a local “soup kitchen.”  We started at 11 am at a local church contributing the space by putting out the placemats, napkins, and tableware for the forty-five or so expected.  The meal is prepared elsewhere by volunteer cooks in a kitchen large enough to prepare a meal for 50.  It is transported by a volunteer driver. 

Today’s meal was barbecue chicken drumsticks and thighs, mashed potatoes, coleslaw and cake for desert.  Volunteer servers place portions of each item on to a Styrofoam plate and others carry it plate by plate serving each individual who is patiently waiting.  Eleven thirty is  the advertised start time, but 80% of the seats are filled by 11:20am.  The remaining 10 to 15 % come in the next half hour.  Most appear single, but there are some couples and families with children.

All have a smile on their face, appear happy and cheerful.  A few eat and run in ten minutes, but most linger for a good forty minutes or more – this is a daily social time for them.  It is a psychologically necessary social network for them; lots of small talk and a little news of the day is all that is needed to feel part of a group that is accepting and caring.  The food is always good, nourishing and ample. 

For all, this meal is the main one of the day, and for some the only meal.  As they finish we clean up, wipe down tables, wash pans and sweep the floor. A little before 1, the place is ready for the next day.  The volunteers disperse.  I’ll be back in a month, but two volunteers are there four days a week for their labor of love.  

Many of the patrons thank me and the other staff as they leave, but I thank them for the opportunity to be of help.  Even though I have taken three hours out of my workday to do this service, I always have a warm glow inside as I drive away knowing that this group of people really needed the help and I was part of a solution, up close and personal.  My optimism for the day is enhanced.

If you are looking for more optimism in your life, day-to-day, here is one very simple solution – and doesn’t cost anything except time, effort and a little labor – go help another person or group of person’s less fortunate.  Make a call to your local "Meals on Wheels," Salvation Army, or church and find out how you can help the hungry.

The positive spirit within will be unleashed in ways you cannot imagine until you do the service..

Then write in and let us know how your optimism was improved by helping the needy.