BETTER CHOICES, BETTER WORLD

In my last post, I spoke about making better choices rather than resolutions. The difference here is perhaps not too unlike splitting hairs, except that making choices is more of an ongoing process. It is about dealing with a series of issues with or without any significant declarations that are hard to live up to. The whole idea of having choice can be scary, because the results of making bad ones can produce unwanted, if not devastating results. A very large and present example is what to do in this present economy. On many levels we have fears and doubts about what to do. Should i sell or buy stocks? Should I spend or save? What if I lose my job> my house? Everything? This economic crisis came upon us so quickly that very few of us saw it coming. The bailout packages came from nowhere, it seemed and the media has had a frenzy hay-day around all of this. Stock markets are plummeting, unemployment and foreclosures are sky-rocketing and the sly is falling. Panic and fear can become monsters unto their own. This is not to take way any of the real pain felt by many now caught in this crunch, but it does seem to me that the domino affect of one loss creating another is in fact, somewhat driven by fear. Stampedes happen when a few cattle are spooked. Again, I’m in no way trying to minimize the realities of this current situation, but I am suggesting that we have some choice about joining that stampede and being driven by fear. I am in no way an economist and don’t pretend to understand the complexities of what’s happening here, other than some very bad choices, apparently based in greed and corruption were made.
That alone can make us all feel victimized and jittery about what’s going to happen next. But fear will only make things worse. When afraid, we tend to isolate, not spend, and not trust. That behavior leads to more stress, more economic downturn, and more aggression, depression and anxiety. What is the better choice is also the more difficult. Choosing to not be the victim of hard times is choosing to “think outside the box,” to be open to more possibilities, to get more education or training, to be willing to change career paths or start your own business.
Most important, I believe is this is not the time to isolate from one another. It’s time to unite, support one another, give a lending hand and/or be willing to accept one when needed. We can choose to not accept failure by making small decisions, one at a time, for a more cohesive, respectful and thriving world.