Acceptance releases everything to be what it already is
I am glad Fed Chair Ben Bernanke spoke to the nation last night on 60 Minutes. I found his information and analysis of our present economic situation quite reassuring. For one thing, it was quite obvious that this is a brilliant man, and just happens to be the foremost expert on our own Great Depression.
I liked his metaphor as an explanation of why we cannot allow gigantic multinational banks to fail. He compared it to have an irresponsible neighbor who insisted on smoking in bed. When his house catches on fire do you call the fire department or just let it burn because he was irresponsible? What if he catches your house on fire? What if the whole town burns?
According to Bernanke, the economic failure of our entire nation was at stake last October and if the government had failed to react properly, things would be far worse than they are now.
One of the most important lessons I learned from my own midlife crisis is the uselessness of erring on the side of pessimism. Always expecting the worst from life is rather like being constantly worried about everything. How exhausting and what does it get you? Ulcers? Cancer? Heart attacks? Early death?
Find the solution, not the blame
Every moment of everyday we can choose to expect good things or bad in our lives. The economy is a good example of this process. First let’s focus on how hopeless it all is and start to feel terrible about all the retirement money we’ve lost. Bernanke says most of us have lost around 18% of our net worth as of today. Gee, that makes me feel much better!
Now let’s err on the side of optimism. Well, at least the economic crisis happened while we still have a few more years to work and save. I’ve learned so much from this economic downturn. For one thing I learned that it can happen and how bad it can be when it happens. Now I have to believe that we can get through this and come out a better, wiser and stronger nation because of it.
I am so tired of all the pessimism and nay saying in the news and elsewhere. The moment you decide things are better in your own mind, they just start to seem better. I cannot see how negativity is going to get us out of this recession, and it’s certainly no way to run your life.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Well said, Laura Lee! I couldn’t agree more.
Wise words. Maybe we could look at the opportunities this is giving us … challenging ourselves and working together to find new and better ways of living. When not approached with fear and negativity, that’s kind of exciting.
Thanks for the link – I’d missed 60 Minutes and was glad the entire Bernacke interview was available online! Good job stating in such a clear way what is also obvious to me.
I haven’t seen the 69 minute interview, so I don’t know if I will change my mind after I do, but I’m not convinced we should bail the big banks out. I think all that money could be going into other businesses to support them in keeping their staff on. If the people that have been put off were still employed they’d have money to spend, to put back into the economy. By supporting the banks, all I see is more people getting into more debt.