It has been a while since we pontificated about stress on our blog although it has not been due to lack of being busy. We have been to China to set up some business relationships and have been developing new products and programs. As we have stated in the preface, we blog when the idea hits us, and in the little time we have had to post a blog, we quite frankly have been somewhat depressed over the unrelenting economy and the terrible effects it is having for all of us. It is akin to "piling on" in football...it never stops punishing the average joe and even those that have assets.
We read an alarming statistic that over half of US households would not be able to raise $2,000 in 30 days if needed for an emergency! This is roughly 50 million households at 2.3 people per household or over a 100 million souls. Not only does this "pull the bark off" how fragile our American society is financially, but exposes the tremendous social issues we all will face when these persons do have an emergency or need for the money, and believe me they will at some time. Where do they get it? Borrow, steal, sell the house or personal items? It will affect us all.
Patience and resiliency are learned skills and require desire and discipline. Since we are a pill popping society, very few will invest in themselves to learn these mind/body skills in order to cope with the inevitable consequences of financial shortfalls. The longer the economy continues to languish, the more fortitude we will all need. We are experiencing the real life saga of the world economy coming together for the first time and the immediate consequences of each countries' actions or failures. Our new high speed stock market computers have programmed sophisticated
mathematical formulas based on certain scenarios and are making money when the market goes up and down. Unfortunately, the average guy does not have this advantage and has to witness his fortunes gyrate with the market. The "wealth effect" from have your 401K or retirement savings has been deflated and is forcing modification of all plans from time of retirement to lifestyle choices. Those who do not have significant savings or 401K retirement plans, are even worse off. They can not count on retirement and are relegated to working until they pass away, if they can even keep or find a job for this unknown period.
It is all very disturbing and depressing for all of us. Maybe we are also seeing the "real" unemployment rate for the future, which is partly due to our ability to create automatic machines that can do our work for us. We do this in the name of convenience and productivity, but it has real life costs to our society that is adjusting our thinking on the "new" world economy.
So, what is one to do? First, get centered and pray to your higher power for guidance. Second, learn how to meditate and force yourself to walk or exercise while eating fruits and vegetables and low calorie meals. Learn cognitive behavioral skills and think positive, since there is always a path out of despair. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem. It will not go away by itself, but how you view it and how you respond is the only change that will be meaningful, even if the basic economic situation continues. Remember, study after study shows the poor and impoverished that have very little material wealth, but family and friends, are the happiest of humans on the planet.
It is all in your head waiting for the change only you can make. Do it and you will feel better, and if we are lucky, things will also get better. Either way, you will approach each new situation with a positive, can do attitude and increase your resiliency to better cope with the reality we have been given.
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