Welcome to Aggressive Optimism. I’m Jenna Edwards and I’m a Speaker, Author and Optimist. What I’m not is a doctor so any advice or opinions you hear are from my own experience and should not be taken as medical advice. You should also know that some things I talk about may be triggering. If you’re having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please consult a professional. 

Today we’re exploring…

The idea of not being defined by your circumstances. 

Growing up, I was, what I call a “walking statistic.” What I mean by that is that I grew up with all these statistics. My parents were teen parents, so statistically I should have been a teen parent. My parents got divorced so statistically I should be divorced, my mom’s 2nd husband (who she also divorced, thank goodness) was abusive so I should have grown up to be in an abusive relationship, my family struggled with addiction so I should have struggled with addiction, etc. etc. etc. etc. To say the cards were stacked against me, statistically, would be an understatement. 

But, luckily, I was also raised by people who didn’t hide the opportunities that so often come along with the struggles so I knew that I could make a choice to change things. 

There’s always a choice. It might not be the choice we’d like to have. For example, I absolutely hated where I grew up and my choice would have been to move away from there immediately. But, I was a kid, so that choice wasn’t an option. So, I made the choice to figure out how to get out of there, ASAP and I focused daily on options to make that happen. Just knowing I was working toward something made things bearable. 

Knowing about choice was such a huge gift to me and I’m happy to say that I was able to prove all the statistics wrong and create a life I really love living. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had struggles, it just means that when those struggles occur, I know I can figure out a way through. As I said, the idea of choice, the idea that our circumstances don’t define us, was such a huge gift to me, that I’ve made it my mission to share that gift and perspective with anyone who will listen. 

That’s what I hope to do on this show. Each weekday, we’ll explore an idea or a circumstance and I’ll share my thoughts on it or a way I was able to overcome it. 

Now it’s your turn. I’d love to get to know you better. 

Have you experienced a time when your circumstances have stopped you from moving forward toward your goal? 

How were you able to overcome that?

I’d love to hear about it over on my Instagram @aggressiveoptimism.

Let’s share some ways that have worked so that those still struggling with this can find their way forward. 

I’m Jenna Edwards and you’ve been listening to Aggressive Optimism®. I hope you’ll join me tomorrow as we explore the idea of following your dreams. Until then, have a great day!