The economy is getting ready to “take off” again. Those who get out in front of it will benefit richly. How exactly does one do this?
First and foremost, don’t let FEAR get in your way. Research shows that when the economy dips, humans get scared. When this happens self-confidence takes a beating, and the ability to feel positive about the future suffers.
Here are some tips to help us all overcome our fears.
1. Don’t give into “Mental Inflation.”
Our brains are marvelous, but they tend to exaggerate the negative. When the brain hears bad news, it magnifies it. It learned to do this thousands of years ago. For example, instead of waiting around to see if a saber-tooth tiger would attack, the brain learned that it was better to give extremely quick and exaggerated signals to the body like, “GET OUT – NOW.”
Well, saber-tooth tigers no longer exist, but the brain’s quick reaction time still does. Likewise the brain probably overreacts when normal problems arise. Hence, the challenges we presently face are probably not as big as our brains make them out to be. So is there a word of advice in all of this?
When mental inflation hits you, recognize it for what it is and “Chill out.” Go forward. Everything will work out.
2. Don’t stop communicating.
When fear hits, one of the first things to go is our communication with others. This has to be avoided because everyday conversation, both small and large, serves the purpose of “right sizing” the everyday challenges we face. Over and over again it has been shown that problems, once communicated, usually get smaller not larger.
I am convinced that what we “think” determines how we “feel.” Our state of mind will be content and positive if positive thoughts are at the forefront of our minds. When this occurs, we are better able to move forward with confidence and courage.
One of the best ways to get positive thoughts filling our minds is to talk with friends. They, more often than not, come up with positive comments that help us dispel the negative thoughts that are swirling around in our heads. I’ve also observed that when we share our personal fears with friends it can also bring out the best in them.
The perspective of our world changes as our thoughts about it change. More often than not our thoughts change from negative to positive with just a little bit of good conversation.
3. Don’t stop Planning.
Planning for the future does one important thing. Planning forces us to look beyond present concerns and focus on future opportunities. Fear keeps us locked up in the present, while planning gets us moving toward the future. And if the history of capitalism has taught us anything, it’s that the future is richer and more abundant than the past. Today’s valleys turn into tomorrow’s peaks.
Planning is an ideal activity that keeps us moving toward the peaks in life and away from its valleys.
If I had my wish, I’d wish fear away. Fear produces anxiety that in turn causes us to turn inward and become tentative. That’s no way to live and I empathize deeply with those caught up in fear. I’ve dedicated my life to helping people overcome their fears of the future and move out aggressively to seize it. I work hard at trying to tell people that problems are usually not as bad as we imagine them to be. Communicating openly and freely dispels a lot of fear. I’m also a believer that planning into the future keeps us out of the clutches of present concerns. So go forward with confidence, for the future, especially the future economy, is starting to warm up.