Panic vs. Confidence

I am tired of listening to talk about the economy. I realize that is what's going on, besides the Oscars which are now over, but still, I'm tired of it. I've avoided talking about it myself because I choose to believe that you get what you put your attention on. Trust me, I want my attention anywhere else. It's not that I'm putting my head in the sand. I'm just choosing to focus on the good things that are still happening. And yes, there are still plenty of good things happening, in case you hadn't noticed.

Tonight I heard a discussion on the radio about whether President Obama should give us false hope and talk positively about the future or should be more "realistic" and tell it like it is. "He has to choose his words wisely", "He needs to act as the Cheerleader-in-Chief", "I just wish he'd focus more on confidence and portray that to the American people.". True. And shouldn't we all? Have you listened to the news lately? Sometimes it seems as if the President is the only one staying even somewhat positive about it. I even heard that someone alluded to the fact that we may be in a downward spiral we won't come back from. Please, are we that special? Pretty all-or-nothing thinking if you ask me.

The fact is that we probably will drop about as far as we went up. By now I'm sure you've heard of the Law of Attraction. There are several other Laws of the universe you may not have heard of. One of them is the Law of Rhythm:
"Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall; the pendulum-swing manifests in everything; the measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensates." - The Kybalion.
Which essentially means that the market will go up, the market will go down. The extent to which the market goes down is the extent to which the market goes up. We had some really great times and now we're not. Doesn't mean it doesn't suck for a bunch of people right now, but it's happening nonetheless.

What disheartens me, although not surprising, is everyone's reaction to it. Fear, panic, anger - regular signs of resistance. Resistance to change at the very least, resistance to growth (and I mean personal and spiritual growth) at the very most. This downfall, this turmoil, is a sure calling to make some major changes in ourselves and our world. I've listened to lots of people talk and there are several observations I've made.

1. You can't solve a problem in the same mindset that created that problem. Albert Einstein said that. I think everyone can agree that he had the genius in him. Now think about that statement really hard. We cannot solve this economic crisis by the same mindset that created it. The spend foolish, cutting taxes solves everything, partisan, name calling, greedy and corrupt mindset. Or as I like to call it, the old-crabby-white-man syndrome (my apologies to any older caucasian gentlemen that do not fit this description). This is NOT a stereotype of older white men. It's more a fitting description of most of the people who've a. driven us to this mess and b. refuse to take any personal responsibility for it and c. are the least willing to wake up to spiritual and personal development. We cannot keep doing the same old things. They just don't work anymore. There, I've said it. Now I feel better.

2. And yes, talking about it does just make it worse. I've been out in stores. If someone hadn't told me that people were buying less, I wouldn't know it. The people minding the books might know, but for many people it wouldn't have looked any different! It wouldn't have unless, say, the nightly news and every newspaper and website in the world weren't blasting headlines that foretold the end of the world. Nothing begets fear like fear, nothing begets panic like panic. No matter how much we like to think differently, we are much like lemmings and we do like to follow the crowd. We have nothing to fear but fear itself (and the people who perpetuate it).

3. While we're at it, let's explore that lemming idea a little further. I think many of the psychological tools of influence apply here - social proof, commitment, consistency... They have their place, but man, we're in a bind here, can't someone just think on their own for goodness sake?

I've started on my little diatribe and now I need to step back and let it go. I don't want to fall prey to one of my own complaints (the same mindset and all). I just hope that we can all have some, well, hope. If the Black Plague couldn't kill a society, then I doubt this will. This is just a push - a really big one, mind you, but a push still - to make some major changes. Personally, spiritually, financially, mentally. If you lost your job, explore what you really want to be when you grow up and go do it. If you are scared and feeling lack, spend some time appreciating what you do have. If you are fearful of the future, focus instead on the present, since we really don't know what the future will bring it doesn't help to worry about it.

I just received this in an e-mail. I think it pretty much sums it up:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.