CHANGING TIMES - OUR CURRENT ECONOMY

My good friend Jodi McDonald offers the following insight on the changing times:

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. King Whitney Jr.
Everything in a mortal, physical, energetic reality is constantly changing. Resistance is futile, and yet, people fight against change every day. We love cozying up in our comfort zones, and if anyone tells us it is time to move on, we growl. Even when change is inevitable…there are those who go down fighting. Why? The one who suffers the most is the one who resists.

When we are confronted with a challenge, our method of response is the most powerful tool we have. How are we going to react?

Those who come from fear fight the hardest…bringing up one reason after another as to why the change is just too scary to acknowledge. Problem is, it is going to happen anyway. All this fear does is put the one feeling it in an even worse situation. The problem feels like it grows and grows, and there is no clear exit. It’s all about survival. We feel overwhelmed and victimized. We cannot reason with fear, and we cannot find a solution while engulfed in it. Fear focuses solely on the problem. Any time we are coming from the posture of fear, we need to check our beliefs, re-evaluating what it is we are so afraid of and why. People operating from fear are asking questions like: “Why is this happening?” “What can I do to stop this?” “When will this be over?” ”Where can I hide?”

Other people respond to change with hope. These people are feeling alone and abandoned by life, so the change is welcomed as a possible solution to an already bad predicament. They “hope” things will get better. While this is certainly a better position than fear, it still carries a shadow of doubt. Any time we hope for something, we are automatically allowing for the possibility of failure. It may or may not work out. When acting out of hope, we are still feeling very vulnerable and powerless to forces outside ourselves. If the change works in our favor, we are happy; but, if it doesn’t, we may find ourselves moving closer and closer to fear. While this reaction is not as miserable as fear, it leaves far too much room for doubt to step in as the one in control. People living from this place ask: “Will this make it better?” “Is there a down side?” “Who’s going to help me?”

Now, let’s take a look at that third possible response…inspiration! Those who look at change as inspiration are joyfully responding with complete acceptance. Sure, they might feel a bit of hesitation, but it is not running the show. These people welcome change as an opportunity to make things better than ever and they are in complete control. This attitude says, “I’m in charge!” Those who come from inspiration look at a challenge as something that will benefit them. They know, in the end, they will be left in a better place than where they were found. Just like everyone else, they aren’t able to foretell what “might” happen, but they aren’t looking at consequences. These people focus solely on solutions. The instant a change is evident, they start to map out a plan. Because they never feel victimized…they aren’t! This is a powerful place, because those who move from this state of being are confident, peaceful and fully responsible. They are in absolute acceptance, focused only on how the change will benefit and prosper them. Inspired people ask: “What can I do to help?” “What new opportunities are in this?” “How can I find the best and quickest solutions?”

Those of us who are choosing to be cheerleaders in a time of great change should be rejoicing! For the first time in ages, we have a willing audience ready to hear what we have to say. The most important thing we can provide is passion. In this time in our history, it does not serve us to calmly claim, “I have a good idea.” This is the time we should be standing on rooftops, shouting, “Follow me! I know the way!!” Tough times require inspired leaders to take charge and offer new visions. These leaders must come from a calmness and confidence that leaves no room for doubt and fear. We have been talking the talk for a long time. Now, we must walk the walk.