In this rough season of economic upheaval, don't drink the Kool-Aid of fear. I don't care if it's strawberry-red Kool-Aid and it makes you feel yummy all over. Unchecked anxiety is a deceptive elixir; it dulls vision and stalls strategies.
I urge you today and prod myself as well: Don't fear, innovate.
Here are five things to think about right now:
1. Identify your purpose.Who are you to the world? What do you have to give that no one else does? If you haven't already heard of him, check out Lance Wallnau on this subject and get a vision of why you are on the planet and why you are on the planet for such a time as this. This isn't feel-good babble, this is necessary truth. The more we know about who we actually are, the more we make decisions that are best for us in the long- and short-term.
2. Weigh all options. Before proceeding on any decision, consult with innovators and thought leaders. For business owners, this could be key consultants. For families, this might mean learning from those who seem to know how to live frugally, yet fully. (My new blog favorite is beingfrugal.net.) Talk with older generations about how they got through hard times. Respect their viewpoint. The wisdom of the past always offers keys for the future.
3. Embrace people, don't neglect them. As individuals and families we can become submerged in our problems. We ignore others because we have too many problems of our own. But by staying in contact with others we glean strength from them. In turn, they are strengthened by us. It's a wonderful thing to watch how connections with others generate ideas and strategies that help everyone during a collective crisis.
4. Give. Many nonprofits are hurting because donors are running scared. Again, that's the deceptive Kool-Aid of fear. Spit it out and help somebody else. Give money, time, support, or prayer. If you are out of work but you know how to organize an office, don't spend your days just looking for a job. Volunteer at a struggling nonprofit organization that needs your skills. When all this is over and the economy recovers, may that the recovery bear your fingerprints because you chose to help.
5. Share your ideas. Hoarders flash on the landscape for a moment, but they aren't the stuff of remarkable life histories.Wisely share what you know, even if it seems like you won't get a dime in return. If somebody abuses your gift of ideas, don't drink the Kool-Aid of fear even then. God sees. He has a way of replacing what we seem to lose and incredibly granting us more.
Judy Howard Ellis
Comments