How did we get here?
We are the sum total of our choices. “We” meaning this country, this world, your family, your friends, YOU, Me. Each taking different roads. We make choices. Sometimes the choice is to NOT make a choice – and in that case, someone else makes the choice for us. We chose to support – or ignore- certain politicians. We chose to support – or ignore – their actions. We chose to support – or ignore – the signs of coming disaster.
So, how do you fix a disaster? You CHOOSE to look for the best possible solutions. You CHOOSE to face the problem and figure out what’s needed next. You CHOOSE to stop hiding your head in the sand and do something. Anything. Any small step will do.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher (604 BC – 531 BC)
What’s puzzling is how long it takes us to make the correction and take a step in the right direction, even when we know what it is we need to do. Stubbornness, comfort, fear, irrational resistance… all of those play a part. My guess? Life is so complex and scary when we look at the big picture, that it’s easier to just act as if nothing is going on. Or we play the magical thinking game. We are like 5th graders putting our fingers in our ears and yelling “lalalalalalalalaaaaaaa” …
Things have been out of control for some time. NOW we hear that pundits thought real estate was overpriced. NOW we hear bankers were concerned about investments, churning, and junk bonds. We got here because most of us were focused on own checkbooks instead of using our system of checks and balances out there in the world. In order for our checkbooks to be good again, we have to take a larger role.
Let’s take our fingers out of our ears. Even if all you do is send ONE letter, make ONE phone call, it makes a difference. Look at your own city, your own politicians, your own banks, your own lenders. Do you agree with what they are doing? If not, protest. You aren’t alone. Unless and Until we stand and say “Enough!” we won’t get any better.
The same goes for our own thinking at home. Unless and Until we take full responsibility for our own decisions, we won’t be resilient enough to bounce back.
These are crazy times, but they don’t need to last forever.
Don’t be paranoid. Be conscious. And DO pay attention so you can step on the brakes before you go over the cliff…
Take care of yourself. The world needs you healthy. We all win when you succeed!
All the best as you recover and rebound,
Beth
© 2010 Beth Terry Seminars, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Beth,
This is a great article!
Sharon