You can't turn on the radio or TV or pick up a newspaper without having the news blaring at you, "the economy is terrible, it's really bad and you should be really scared". But is this reality or just hype?I'm not saying we're not in a depression. I certainly can't deny that people are out of work. My husband happens to be one of them. So I'm not writing this from a perspective of someone who hasn't been impacted by the current situation. I am writing it because I firmly believe that we all need to do a reality check and to stay out of fear.
I was at a health show in Minneapolis recently. I can't tell you how many times I talked to someone and they really wanted to buy a Shield or one of my necklaces and knew it was going to help them in a lot of ways. But they didn't buy because...well just because. I heard over and over again "I shouldn't spend the money. What if something happens?" I can understand when people are making decisions based on their actual reality, but that doesn't seem to be the case. People are making decisions based on fear. They've bought into the news hype that it's really bad out there. I've been incensed for months about the
proliferation of news coverage telling us how bad it is, how much we should be afraid. As we all know, at least I hope we all do by now, thoughts are things. If a negative thought is projected enough times, it becomes reality. The depression has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. So what can we do to change it? Yes, I believe we can change it.
First do a reality check.
Has your situation really changed? If it hasn't great, stay positive and go on about your life and refuse to participate in the "isn't it awful" discussions. Change the channel, even turn the TV off. Change how you chose to react to the current circumstances.
What if it has changed? You've lost your job, been down-graded, lost hours (fill in the blanks).....
Reread the previous paragraph - don't buy into the hype.
Here's an example of someone making choices based on what everyone else is doing. Dan's (not his real name) business is going great, better than ever in fact. His 300 employees are just barely keeping up with all the work. But Dan is thinking about laying off 10 people, because "everyone else is". This would have the effect of reducing his force so he wouldn't be able to fulfill deadlines, and, yes, his business would go down. Wow, talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy. The best way to assure a drop in business is to make decisions based on a projected drop. What if you were to just keep doing what you'd been doing, but even more so? I'm all for making decisions based on reality, and also based on a positive "what if".
Second - Do an assessment. What can you do?
Do you need to cut expenses? Not a bad thing, it's probably something we all need to do from time to time.
Do something - don't just sit back and say "oh, but things are so bad". Make some calls, send some emails, maybe even come up with a different business idea. Can you market your skills on your own? You may not make your full salary, okay. But is that a reason to not do what you can? If you pick up some work or contract jobs, you might find that one thing leads to another. Just one contact can be the one that you need to take you to your next thing. You might even have fun in the process.
Third: Spend money consciously.
Before make buying decisions - ask yourself - do I want this or do I need this? For example, you could want your landscaping to be the pride of the neighborhood, and think you need to buy a rare flowering plant? What if you reconsidered the purpose of the land around you? Do you have a lawn? What if you it into a garden? You probably need vegetables more than compliments from the neighbors about a flowering bush. Or better still, get a smaller version of that bush, and spend the rest on garden seeds! Not only will you enjoy your yard, but there is nothing quite so satisfying as eating your own tomatoes this summer. One other comment about conscious spending. If we had been able to speak openly with people who were considering buying a shield or a necklace, we would have asked them to think about the benefits of these two items. Both the Shield and the Energy Necklaces promote healthier, stronger energy. Isn't that exactly what a person needs in times like this? We would ask them to weigh the ultimate benefits of whatever they choose to buy at a much deeper level. Will you feel more satisfaction when you can walk outside this summer and pick a tomato instead of look at that rare bush? Or if you get a Shield and Energy Necklace, having the energetic balance to handle a stressful situation verses getting a new sweater. Conscious spending will keep your inner "economy" going while supporting the "outer" US economy. Oh, and did we mention - buy products made in this country?
Reread the article about Questers in the January Newsletter.
Become a Quester. Dare to Make Changes. You might just find a new way of life. Amazing things can happen when you let yourself explore the possibilities.
Here's a short version of my story. Maybe you'll find it inspirational. In June I went to a huge bead show
- The Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee. Overwhelmed by the energy and beauty of all those gemstones, I walked out with an entire suitcase of beads. I didn't even know how to make jewelry. For a brief period I entertained the thought that maybe I was just nuts, but I was so thrilled with all my purchases and the energy of the stones I decided to do something about it. I wanted to make beautiful, wearable jewelry.
I took classes, read books, magazines and watched videos. I made jewelry, and practiced the techniques almost night and day. I discovered a natural talent and passion and have been "beading like crazy" ever since. When I say like crazy, I mean, I've made over 200 necklace and earring sets. When friends and strangers started asking if they could buy my creations, I realized that maybe I was meant to make jewelry. I was working a day job as an accountant and working for the BioElectric Shield part time evenings and weekends. In one week my doctor, massage therapist and chiropractor all told me I needed a change. I was tired, exhausted and depressed. My doctor pointed out that when I talked about work my energy was really down, but when I talked about jewelry I was excited and glowing. Although my job wasn't terrible, it wasn't fulfilling and the atmosphere wasn't supportive. I did a reality check and did the unthinkable. I quit my day job. Yes, I was aware the economy was bad....but I just couldn't let that make the decision for me.
I printed up business cards, created a website and booked a few shows where I could sell my creations.
I won't kid you and say there haven't been challenges, or times I've seriously wondered what I was thinking. I'm not making tons of money, but somehow everything is working out okay. I'm working many more hours in total, but I'm happy, excited and fully engaged in the process. I also refuse to talk to other artists or people who are telling me that you just can't sell in this economy. That I should be scared and pull my energy in and just sit back and wait it out. Nope, that's not the answer. I believe that by being positive and continuing to believe in my choices that my reality will continue to be one of abundance and joy.
What's your passion? What's your joy? If you can't turn it into a job, can you at least find a way to bring it into your life a little more? For each thing in your life that you turn into a positive, another negative will fall away.
Let's change our lives and our worlds one thought, one action at a time.
Carolyn
Image credits
Horrible News www.LAtimes.com
Economic Depression www.yourdictionary.com
Reality Check By sujathafan on Flickr
Money on the Mind http://www.myspace.com/118443192
Bead & Button from Val Ubel
