TOC – A to Z Blog Challenge Theme

TOC for “Blogging from A to Z April 2016 Challenge” (I’m # 695)

Here’s the A to Z Category page, listing all my A to Z posts if you don’t want to slog through this one.  HERE’S LAST POST.      Thank you A to Z

Post Day	Post Date	Post Letter	Link and Description
Friday	04/01/2016	A	All About Me [You] Introduction to this blog series.
Saturday	04/02/2016	B	Bullying: I can stop being bullied Stop the bully problem with a defense system.
Monday	04/04/2016	C	Criticize me, please! No, really! There’s  an art form in asking for help.
Tuesday	04/05/2016	D	Don’t give up too soon or too late It’s OK to say “don’t give up” but we also need to know when it’s OK to move on.
Wednesday	04/06/2016	E	Equal Doesn’t Mean Same Why is it bad to be good?
Thursday	04/07/2016	F	Flip Flop: on purpose! Let’s show our weaknesses (carefully) to give ourselves character.
Friday	04/08/2016	G	Guilt Trip Everyone tries to guilt you into improving.
Saturday	04/09/2016	H	Honesty versus Abasement Difference between being up front and putting yourself down.  Credit: Alex
Monday	04/11/2016	I	I is for I can’t choose which ones! Identity: Know Thyself Dig deep and learn what your triggers are.  Credit: Alex Independence/Insecurity Credit: Cassie from Mommy, RN
Tuesday	04/12/2016	J	Journey to Confidence Credit: Cassie from Mommy, RN
Wednesday	04/13/2016	K	Knowledge: you’re not Einstein There’s always more to learn. Credit: Alex
Thursday	04/14/2016	L	Love yourself? Nope, just be comfortable Feel right at home with yourself.  Credit: Jen Seriously
Friday	04/15/2016	M	My Car only Seats Just So Many It’s okay not to be Superman.
Saturday	04/16/2016	N	No Magic Answers Confidence has to start somewhere; looking at it from another angle can help.
Monday	04/18/2016	O	Opportunity to learn Credit: Cassie from Mommy, RN Outgoing or Introvert Credit: Jen Seriously Overwhelmed Credit: Alex
Tuesday	04/19/2016	P	Positive Attitude Keep positive; don’t gossip.  Credit: Cassie from Mommy, RN
Wednesday	04/20/2016	Q	Quick to judge Every single thing can feel like an attack. Credit: Cassie from Mommy, RN
Thursday	04/21/2016	R	Respect Yourself “Be nice” to yourself, not just others.  Credit: Jen Seriously
Friday	04/22/2016	S	Society’s Messages How much of our self-image and self-worth comes from society?
Saturday	04/23/2016	T	Taking Care of Number One Charity and generosity are wonderful, as long as we don’t forget to take care of ourselves.
Monday	04/25/2016	U	Uplifting Experiences Seek out stuff that makes you feel great when you feel not-so-great.  Credit: Alex      .
Tuesday	04/26/2016	V	Validation is dangerous If you always need praise, you may have a confidence issue.  Credit: Alex Vanity: the confidence alter-ego Love yourself, but not to the point where you think you are “all that”.  Credit: Jen Seriously
Wednesday	04/27/2016	W	Who Cares? We should stop obsessing about what other people think of us.
Thursday	04/28/2016	X	Xenophile Stretch:  you like everyone else but yourself.
Friday	04/29/2016	Y	You Can Believe. It’s hard, but you can beat your inner bully. I did – partially – and I continue to make strides every day.  Credit: Jen Seriously
Saturday	04/30/2016	Z	Zero to Hero I know, that’s my writer’s blog. But I think it’s likely to be an apt way to wrap it up and end this theme – learning to find your inner hero.
FRIDAY	04/01/2016	A	Reblogs Online Sharing of Non Profit Organizations

[Original Post Text]

The A-Z Challenge is a fun chance for us all to practice our writing and share our links!
This is the THEME REVEAL for the blogging challenge: Blogging from A to Z April (2016) Challenge.

So many people and so many “programs” tell us that by squishing our negative feelings and bolstering our inner vision of ourselves we will attain happiness. This gives us some magic formula of physical and mental “wellness” – whatever that is.

What they don’t tell us is the opposite – which, on the surface, should be obvious: that by lacking self-confidence, you’ll be unhappy. What I’ve been taking exception  to, though, is how shallow this whole self-promotion trend is – so very black and white.

It’s quite clear to many of us that when we’re lacking in confidence, we tend to be more timid, we give up more easily, and we do not rise to a challenge and are easily intimidated by others, just to name a few. It also seems relatively clear that when you’re more confident, you’ll have higher chances of landing that job, you’ll feel better about yourself, and you might even treat your physical health with more respect by eating better and exercising.

Where I wish to focus is on people like me: We don’t particularly view ourselves as lacking in confidence, yet we close so many doors for ourselves because we still believe all the lies about ourselves that we grew up with: we’re lazy; we’re not talented enough; we’re not experienced enough; statistics show that only 10 out of a million people succeed as new writers (I’m being sarcastic here).

In this blog series, I hope to bring out some different points of view for us to consider:

• Confidant but not overly arrogant
• Humble but not timid
• Optimistic but not unrealistic
• Realistic but still giving yourself a chance

I have no idea if I will be able to take up 26 blog posts without saying the same thing over…and over, but my optimism tells me to give it a shot (even if my ‘realism’ is warning me I might end up on a soap box)! Here’s what I have planned so far (thoughts only, not written yet):

• Blog Challenges
• Writing
• Writing - Editing
• Writing Practice