Dealing with Current Events in a Healthy Way
There are those who say that it’s better to ignore the news. I disagree with this. Ignoring political and economic trends makes it difficult to strategize for the future.
For me, watching the news is a spiritual discipline because I learn how to detach from what I’m seeing. I can imagine that I’m climbing up a mountain and watching the drama from a much higher point of view – to be in the world but not of it.
From that elevated point of view, it’s easier to remove “good” or “bad” from what I’m seeing. Whatever is happening is just what’s happening, and how I deal with it on a physical, emotional, or spiritual level is my choice.
Years ago, I had a big AHA. I realized, it ALL depends on how you look at it. I can see current events as filled with pain and tragedy, or I can see a rapidly changing world where people have the opportunity to learn that when anger, fear, and selfishness are replaced with love, acceptance, and a social consciousness, everyone benefits. Continue reading
Prosperity Tip: What Are You Feeling?
Anyone who follows the news these days can get the feeling that the whole world is falling apart. And maybe it is!
With protests, corruption, drug-gang violence, severe state and national budget cuts, rising gas and food prices, an unstable job market, so-called leaders acting like children, and seemingly endless extreme weather events forefront in the news, it’s no wonder that people are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, powerless, and concerned about the future.
Many people are either out of work or only a paycheck away from financial disaster. Even those with what used to feel financially secure are beginning to worry about the future of their investments.
Here’s what’s happening:
It’s not the whole world that is falling apart, but rather systems that have outlived their usefulness. As the old systems decay and new begin to form, the foundations of society are in turmoil We are in that place between the old and new that doesn’t have clear form or definition.
Live Fear Free in the New Economy
- Are you scared because of your financial situation?
- Is your job or business income threatened by current financial conditions?
- Do you wonder what has happened to the American dream?
- Would you like to move beyond your fear and experience financial peace of mind?
Join me on Auguest 24th for a new teleclass where you can learn the skills you need to thrive and prosper in these tough economic times.
Living Fear Free in the New Economy
A 90-Minute Teleclass with Joan Sotkin
August 24 – Noon Pacific, 3 PM Eastern
Listen on the phone, on the Web or download the recording. A transcript will be available along with other goodies.
Join me for this interactive teleclass and learn:
- The simple techniques to move through your fear and emerge in a solid financial position
- How to make fear a creative rather than destructive force so you can move on with your life
- The main steps you need to take to live fear free in the new economy
- How to discover marketable talents you have that you never realized could support you
- Techniques for activating your inner power so you build a realistic and secure future
If you are ready for a stress-free, fear-free life, read more about this teleclass at http://LiveFearFreeNow.com
Prosperity Tip: Is Fear Your Default Emotion?
Recently someone asked me why I didn’t include fear in my book Build Your Money Muscles as one of the basic emotions that people act out through their money. I explained that fear is the cover-up emotion, the emotion that people default to when they are unsure of themselves and their future.
Fear is often used as an excuse for not moving forward. Yet those who are willing to work through their fear and risk what might seem like failure are the people who are most successful.
Fear in the Current Economy
There’s no doubt about the fact that we are living in uncertain times. The recession, unemployment, foreclosures,
lack of available credit, and debt problems in Europe all add to an environment of uncertainty.
Even though large companies are earning healthy profits, the uncertainty is keeping them from adding jobs or making big investments. Instead of hiring people, companies are buying machines that allow them to replace people. Continue reading
Prosperity Tip: 5 Ways of Dealing with the Chaos of Change
Recently a woman was recounting her experience of going from having very little to being able to buy a house, something she thought would be impossible. “Before everything turned around,” she said, “my whole life fell apart and I thought I’d never recover.”
What she didn’t understand at the time was the life-falling-apart experience was an essential element on her path to prosperity. People don’t realize that in order to alter their lives significantly, there is often a period where the old crumbles in order to make way for the new.
That’s what’s happening in the world right now. We are going through a major transition that is causing lots of chaos as the old is replaced by a new paradigm. Continue reading
Prosperity Tip: Acceptance
Years ago, when I was attending a number of 12-Step programs, I learned the Serenity Prayer and repeated it often. The Serenity Prayer states:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Let’s look at the phrase, “accept the things I cannot change.”
During these tumultuous times acceptance can be an antidote to fear. Acceptance allows you to find solutions to your problems and to experience peace of mind, no matter what is going on the world. Non-acceptance leads to dissatisfaction and many forms of emotional discomfort as well as poor financial decisions. Continue reading
Prosperity Tip: No Excuses!
People often tell me why they aren’t able to make “enough” money. The most common include:
- I have a low self-image
- My needs weren’t met as a child
- What I did was never enough for my father
- I’m not very good with money (or numbers)
- I don’t know enough about marketing
- I feel pushy if I’m trying to sell someone my products or service
- Actually, the list could go on and on.
Here’s a fact: every one of the reasons given is an excuse for not moving forward. And everything listed above can be altered with conscious intention and effort — effort being the operative word. Continue reading
Finding the Silver Lining
Each day, new data is released in the United States that deepens the gloom and doom surrounding the current “economic recovery.” In the past week we have learned:
- Job openings are at a record low — there are 50% fewer than in 2007
- More homeowners are struggling as option ARMs reset higher
- Approximately one-third of all mortgage holders have a loan balance that’s higher than the current value of their home
- Cities and states are still struggling to find ways to balance their budgets
- People are using far less credit and are saving more, which is great for them, but slows the economy which depends on consumer spending
- Although the unemployment rate is 10%, the number of people who are either unemployed, underemployed, or have given up looking reaches more than 17% of the working-age population
- Qualified people who are finding work are often accepting lower salaries than they earned before they were laid off.
Do the Hustle
I recently had a conversation with a successful business owner about surviving the current economy. We both agreed that there is business to be had, but in these times, a little hustling is in order.
Reaching out to potential clients through innovative marketing, increased networking, restructuring prices, cutting expenses, and other actions can increase profits even in a down market.
A local plastic surgeon, has cut his prices and told me that he had his best month ever in September. He was willing to compromise, and has benefited from his actions.
Flexibility Can Boost Your Earnings
In April, I asked if you are ready for the new reality. Each day, it becomes more apparent to me that the old order is holding on as tight as it can, making it difficult for new systems to emerge organically.
In the US, the health care debate is a perfect example of an old-style power structure holding tight to financial self-interests in order to protect the status quo, which clearly is not serving US citizens.
The same is true in the financial realm where “experts” from the same institutions who created the current crisis are in charge of the cure. Same old, same old. Continue reading
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