Since it’s Friday the 13th, how scared should we be? |

« Beware of These | Home | Real Estate Grants in Atlanta »

Since it’s Friday the 13th, how scared should we be?

By Jillian Wheeler | February 13, 2009

I’m something of a news junkie, but lately I’ve been weaning myself away. Every time I turn on television news especially, all I see and hear are tales of our “deteriorating” economy. According to the prophets of gloom and doom, things are bad and inevitably getting worse, not just in the U.S., but throughout the world.

So how scared should we be?

Like many other people, I took economics in college. It didn’t make a lot of sense to me then, and I have to admit, my understanding of the subject is still pretty limited. So when the pundits say the banking industry is in crisis, I’m not really in a position to dispute that.

On the other hand, we bought a car recently, and we had no problem getting a loan to finance it. We have friends who have purchased houses, and gotten loans for their businesses. Our credit union sends us periodic letters assuring us they are solvent, and still lending. Other people we know are getting similar letters from their banks.

So I can’t help thinking about that old adage, “Bad news sells papers.” I think it’s true about TV, as well. It’s easy to get hooked on disaster, and to keep turning on the news to see which company has failed today. Whether they are doing so intentionally, and cynically, or whether they’re unconsciously caught up in the ongoing drama of the current situation, television news programs are turning up the heat and stirring the pot. On purpose or not, they’re working hard to scare us.

Please understand, I’m not oblivious to the fact that many people are having a hard time. I know lots of folks are losing their jobs, and I get emails all the time from families on the brink of losing their homes. My heart goes out to them.

So how scared should we really be?

Here’s my view of things. Life sometimes brings us challenges, and many people in our world are currently facing big challenges. Although I’m doing fine now, I’ve certainly dealt with lots of challenges in my lifetime, including financial ones. So I understand. It can be scary and painful.

But over the years, I’ve been a student of the Law of Attraction. And I’ve learned that when I can let go of my attachment to any particular outcome, while continuing to visualize and trust in my overall long-term good, things get better. And the more I visualize my good, the more I stay in the moment and have as much fun and love in the moment as I can manage, the faster things improve.

So that’s what I’m doing, instead of watching CNN. I’m concentrating on feeling happy, and sharing my happiness and love with my family, my friends, and everyone I encounter. I’m living in the moment, and in every moment, there is good. Fear tends to distract us from the moment, but the truth is, most of us are okay in the present moment. And when we refuse to imagine impending doom, and replace those fears with pictures of our good, and good for others, life gets better.

As a therapist, I learned about the “collective unconscious,” that shared space where the thoughts and fears of a large group of people gain power and influence the unfolding of events.

I’m unwilling to put any negativity into that space. As much as I can, considering my current state of enlightenment, I’m committed to living in joy, and putting joy into the world.

And I believe the more of us who live in joy and think joy and share joy and love with each other, the faster the economy will heal.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Share This!