Posts Tagged ‘financial downturn’

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.

You can feel and experience the chaos in our politics, finances, education system, and other areas of our lives as the entrenched economic and financial systems are falling apart.

For many, these changes are confusing and frightening as institutions and systems that gave an apparent sense of certainty are falling apart. In many cases they are not being replaced by anything that guarantees certainty. Manufacturing jobs, pensions, health insurance, and even city services such as police protection, can no longer be taken for granted.

As the chaos intensifies, our only choice is to learn how to deal with what’s happening in the moment and to work together to get through difficult times.

Here are five suggestions for dealing with the chaos of change.

1. Get out of the child position.
It’s a time to grow up and stop waiting for those in apparent power to provide you with solutions. Facing reality and taking responsibility for your own outcomes is a way through the darkness.

2. Stay focused in the moment
The future is entirely unknown. Whatever you are afraid of is a fairy tale that you are making up. Why not imagine a positive future and stay focused in the moment. Right now, do you have enough to eat, a place to stay, and people to support you? If any of those are missing, what can you do to improve your situation.

3. Meditate to find the answers inside of yourself
Quite time with yourself allows you to connect to the universal consciousness and your true creative powers. Fear and complaining prevent you from doing this. Even if you only sit quietly for a few minutes each day with your eyes closed, breathing deeply, you will begin to train yourself to quiet down. Mediation instructions are at http://ProsperityPlace.com/articles/gethigh.html

4. Pay attention to your numbers.
During tough financial times people tend to stop taking care of their money because looking at the numbers brings up all sorts of uncomfortable emotions. Yet during tough times, it’s especially important to keep track of everything and make sound financial decisions, even if it seems that there isn’t enough to work with. Basic money management instructions are available in Build Your Money Muscles. http://ProsperityPlace.com/bymm

5. Join with others to find solutions
The days of “me first” are coming to an end as we learn to develop systems that support “we” rather than “me.” Rugged individualism may have worked in the past, but the new paradigm requires cooperation and teamwork. You may need to develop communication skills and join groups in order to learn the new foundation for thriving.

Ongoing, affordable help is available for those who wish to rise above what looks like a bad economic environment and find ways to prosper. Read about the Peace of Mind & Prosperity Program.

There’s an incredible disconnect between the movement of the stock market and the economic reality for much of the US population.

As I’m writing this, the headline on CNBC.com, just above the market chart, is “Stocks Gain 4% for Week Amid Earnings Optimism.” No doubt about it, the market has been going up, enabling those who are supposedly in the know to assure us that we are on the way to recovery.

At the same time, stories are dribbling out about the economic pressures faced by many people:

• There are over 1 million healthcare-related bankruptcies per year
• Over 47,000 people die each year in the US because they can’t afford health care
• 6.3 people are looking for every available job
• High level jobs are going unfilled because workers lack the necessary skills
• Foreclosure rates continue to rise in many areas
• Unregulated financial products are still in the pipeline
• States are cutting back on funding for education, safety, and other necessary services.

Read the rest of this entry »

For many years, every time I did energy work with clients, two phrases came up:

•  I release all pain and memory of pain
•  I release all fear and sorrow

Fully aware that if I’m doing something with a client, it applies to me too, I was surprised that the fear and sorrow piece went on for so long. Over the years, all the physical and emotional pain I had lived with had disappeared, yet I was aware that try as I might, fear and a sense of loss persisted.

Because I believe that we create our life stories in order to express hidden emotions, as I observed the current economic downturn, it occurred to me that fear, or a feeling of vulnerability, and sorrow are the creative force behind the current situation. Certainly the daily talk of terrorism has emerged from our collective fear.

A few months ago, I did a teleclass on letting go of fear and sorrow, and followed that with a healing session that  I recorded separately. Somehow, I was deeply affected by those two events and over the last two months have noticed that the fear and sorrow are really gone. In meditation, I’m aware of his sense of equanimity, as I understand it.

What does this look like on a day-to-day basis? I no longer have feeling that there’s something I have to do. At this point, I really do have the faith that whatever I’m doing is fine and that if I don’t push, I’ll get where I’m supposed to be, whatever that is. I don’t feel compelled to do affirmations, visualizations, set five-year goals or push in any way to try to make things happen. I am much more present in the moment.

I’ll admit that I have moments when I wonder if I am risking or missing something by being so laid back. However, I really like this state of being and am willing to wait and see where it goes. Without any effort, new opportunities are opening up.

Somewhat surprising is the fact that I am now doing more website development work, something I haven’t done since 2002. I see this as a way to provide real world opportunities for growth for people who are developing a strong financial consciousness. So it fits nicely with the financial work that I’ve been doing. And I do enjoy the work.

The bottom line: life beyond fear and sorrow is peaceful — and profitable. I just have to get used to the new feelings that I’m experiencing.

I haven’t made the recording of the teleclass available because the quality of the recording was so poor, but the fear and sorrow healing session is available. I received many positive comments about it.

I am the process of updating Prosperity Place with information about the affordable website building and consulting that I’m doing. There is some information about it now on this site.

I had my spiritual “coming out” on December 26th on my radio show (http://BlogTalkRadio.com/JoanSotkin) and really appreciate the emails and blog comments of support that I received.Actually, lots of people seem to be focusing more on their inner development now that the outer world is falling apart.

The good news in all that is happening is that there is a new order emerging. The tough part is that the old structures have to be destroyed before the new can be rebuilt. If your dwelling has ever gone through a reconstruction, then you recognize the disorientation that so many people are feeling.

Part of the problem, as I see it, lies with those in charge of our governments who are hoping for things to go back the way they were. We aren’t going to be moving backwards. Gross consumerism is on it’s way out as people search for more meaning in their lives.

There are lots of young people who care about the future of the planet. They are the ones who have to grow up under the threat of major catastophes as our oceans rise and topography changes along with alterations in weather patterns. These young people realize that success lies with suvival not with aquisition of things.

It’s time to stop focusing on building individual wealth as our major goal. It is important for us to learn how to use money and other means of exchange like barter in order to faciliatate the movement of goods and services. One thing is for certain, we can’t function and survive alone and we need a functioning system of exchange.

We also need to band together to make sure that everyone has what they need. Perhaps the time has come for people to understand that each of us is a cell in a larger organism and that the physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial health of one affects the entire organism.

What can you do today, no matter what your situation might be?
Reach out to others. Become part of a functioning community–or help to organize one–where people work together towards a common goal. Or join a group that offers support and encouragement as people walk together through the chaos of change.

Spend time in quite contemplation as you search for your vision of a positive future. Then share that vision with others. I started this topic on the Build Your Money Muscles Prosperity Group on Facebook. I’d love to hear from you.

We’ve all watched the movie: A terrible storm batters a ship at sea. Wind blows and waves build as the audience holds their breath waiting to see if those on board live or die. Sometimes there’s a happy ending as the storm subsides, the rough waters calm, and the ship and it’s passengers survive. Other scenarios end in tragedy.

Right now, the planet is the midst of a gigantic financial storm, and we are collectively holding our breath while the waves toss us about and we wait for the storm to end. Storms always do end, but we can’t assess the damage until it is over.

This is a really big storm, and like hurricanes Katrina and Ike will leave a lot of destruction in its path. We can’t avoid the fact that we will have to deal with the destruction and go through a period of rebuilding. It’s not going to be quick and for many it’s not going to be easy.

How well you ride out the storm depends, in part, on your coping skills as the world around you morphs into something new. You can choose to watch the movie–or not–and either stay detached or get caught up in the terror of the rough ride. 

For many years, I have been learning how to detach and watch the drama. It takes a lot of practice and a determination not to get caught up in the emotions of the moment while being able to empathize with those who do.  

I’d like to teach how to do this to anyone who wants to learn to thrive and prosper no matter what is going on. In the first month, in a portion of my new 6-month program, Build Your Money Muscles for Financial Strength & Security, I present techniques for overcoming financial fear.

And the teleclasses that are part of the program provide the opportunity for people to connect to each other and share solutions.

I’m also going to offer free coaching via a new show on BlogTalkRadio.com, which will take place on Fridays at noon Eastern, 9 Pacific, 7 pm GMT.

I hope you will check out the risk-free program today and listen to the show on BlogTalkRadio.com starting on Friday, October 17.

There was an interview on NPR  with a columnist from The Financial Times who pointed out that during past recessions, most people have held on to their jobs, their homes, and their income. His advice for now, be cautious but don’t panic.

I’ve spoken to a number of people in the last few weeks whose lives have mostly been affected by rising prices and/or dropping value of their investments. For many, this is combined with a general feeling of alienation from the niceties of life and the uncertainty generated by the presidential campaign. It’s difficult to feel grounded and focused.

Generally we’re in a wait and see mode, as we wait to get a glimpse of how the financial chaos is going to shake out. This is a time of caution. It’s not a good time to take great risks in either your business or personal life. Rather, it’s better to carefully consider any purchases or major moves, and if possible, wait. Unless you are faced with an emergency, wait.

It’s also a good time to plan for your future–to ask yourself what you really  what you really want to do with the next segment of your life, and spend time doing the research you need if you want to move in a new direction.

It’s also a great time to start improving your financial literacy and understanding of the financial world so when things do turn around, you’ll be ready. I know people who are poised now to buy things at bargain prices with the knowledge that they will benefit in the future.

Because times are leaner, staying in close touch with your money is a wise move. Now is the time, if you haven’t done it before, to start keeping track of your spending and earning and getting to recognize your own patterns. This is the time to cure your financial vagueness syndrome.

For a basic plan for doing these things, read my book Build Your Money Muscles. For a more advanced “course” in developing practical financial skills and overcoming issues like a not-enough or just-enough financial habit, read about Build Your Money Muscles for Financial Strength & Security.

It sure does look like the financial world is falling apart. Major financial institutions are going bankrupt, smaller banks are in danger of closing, government bailouts are taking place, and the words “recession” and “depression” on everyone’s lips.

The immediate threat seems to be a serious tightening of credit, which would affect consumer spending. This in turn would hurt the US economy. At the same time, the problems in the US are affecting economies around the world.

So what’s the good news? This financial crisis has been a long time in coming as regulations were eliminated or not enforced, and greed took over. Those out for the big bucks made risky investments, and the more they got away with, the more risk they took. Then it all started to collapse as securities backed by subprime mortgages went bad.

Here’s the good news: I see the current situation as a major correction as the greed and corruption come to the surface, which will allow the system can start healing itself. The dysfunction goes very deep, so it could be a lengthy healing, but it will heal. And the system that emerges will be stronger–until greed and corruption take over once again. But that will be years in the future.

Should you be afraid? No. And you can minimize your fear if take steps to protect yourself.

• Do everything you can to reduce your debt and cut down on spending.
• Downsize if you have to in order to feel more secure.
• If you can’t stop spending or you keep living on the edge, find out why you hold on to these habits.
• Think through all of your purchases and ask, “Do I really need this?”
• Keep making plans for a positive future and developing strategies for income building.

We are in the down side of a cycle, that WILL turn around in time. The people at the top don’t want the whole system to collapse and will do what they can to save it. It’s going to take a while, because the problem is global. This is a good time to find your place of peace in the midst of the chaos.

In the meantime, this is an opportunity for you to clean up your money mess and prepare for prosperity.

The first month of the six-month Build Your Money Muscles for Financial Strength & Security program has an audio, Overcoming Financial Fear, that can help you get yourself out of fear and into positive action.

There was a story in our local newspaper yesterday with the headline, "Prices rising faster than income," and I thought about how many stories about difficult times I’ve been reading about.

Here’s a different way to deal with these stories so you don’t get caught up in fear:
We live in a dualistic reality where for every plus there’s a minus, and for every up there’s a down. It’s a world of opposites.

Imagine that you are holding in your hand a coin–heads on one side, tails on the other. When you look at the coin, you only see one side. Turn it over and it looks entrely different.

It’s the same with whatever it is you are looking at. Turn it over, and you’ll see the opposite:

• On the other side of debt is solvency
• On the other side of evil is good
• On the other side of miserable is happpy

And on the other side of financial discomfort is financial comfort. All you have to do is turn over the coin and see it from a different point of view.

Because of the downturn, people are becoming more aware of their financial values, and many are getting past financial vaguenss and learning new cash managment skills. Consumerism is down, group activities are up. There is always a plus on the other side of a minus.

Look for the plus in what seems like a minus and you can turn your life around.