Like most all of us, I have experienced a number of challenges and set-backs during this Great Recession period. My income and savings dropped dramatically, my dream of starting a new business was put into mothballs. I needed to do a personal-life make-over in a number of key aspects of my day-to-day activities and perspective.
These are examples of what I’ve learned and shifts I’ve experienced:
- Although I’ve experienced significant loss in income and savings I have never felt richer and more solid in my life
- I feel clearer about my purpose and less anxious about the future
- I am putting more effort into life and enjoying it more
- Creativity is flowing doubts are abating
- More loving/more loved
- Giving more to others/questioning myself less
- More settled AND more creative
- Much clearer what I don’t want/less focused on what could-should be
- Less pushing/more trusting
- Less dramatic more adventuresome
- More commitment/less wasted energy
- More focused/less wasted time
- More discriminating/closer friendships and more meaningful relationship
- More comfortable in my skin/finding life working easier
- Having less needs/receiving more abundance in all forms
- More ease less drama
Questions:
- What have you learned about yourself during these challenging economic times?
- What are you most proud about?
- What has surprised you about your capabilities and any shifts you’ve made in your thinking and actions?
Steve Goldberg is the co-author of Finding the Upside: Practical Wisdom for Challenging Times. You can read more about and purchase the book at: www.findingtheupside.org
Photo Credits:
Wikicommons Attribution License photographer Svilen.milev
Christopher Holt says
HI Steve
Can’t quite say I’ve noticed the same symptoms as you have in response to the challenging economic times; but you are correct in that attitude is 90% of success. I also like to go with fake it till you make it or another way to put that would be to smile even if you don’t feel like it. The smile will make you feel a bit better and the more you smile the better you’ll feel about dealing with your issues. Downsizing and cleaning up the extraneous financial detritus of our lives is a luxury compared to what most people in the world face, so if you have financial problems…at least you have them to solve.
I think the biggest challenge right now may be our collective hope that there is actually a stable future at all.