You are where you plant your feet.
When we get sad, we are focusing on the past. When we get frightened, we are focusing on the future.
Look Backwards for Motivation
If you wish to be inspired, it makes more sense to look backwards, rather than forwards.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, the road ahead looks daunting and intimidating; it seems to go on forever.
However, if you change your view and look at how far you’ve come, you’ll notice the changes you’ve already made, inspiring you to stay the course.
Give yourself credit for the road already traveled, take a deep breath, congratulate yourself for your accomplishments, and then – and only then – face forward and take one more step boldly towards your goal.
Talk to Other Ages
Talk to people who are older than you.
Their views will be different but they have wisdom you can use. Besides, someday you will be in those shoes.
What Will Your Future Self Say to You?
Do something today that your future self will thank you for.
As children, we couldn’t wait for our birthdays. They seemed so far in the future that we thought they’d never get here. Yet they did.
The New Normal: Our Economy Will Never Return to How it Was, and We Better Accept It Quickly
I’ve had a revelation.
Since the “great recession” of 2008 (which appears to still be in process) came trampling through our economic landscape, I have been — like so many others — waiting and hoping for the rebuilding. When will things get back to how they were? Can we soon return to easier times of job security and stable wages? My ship is weary of white caps; I long to navigate calm seas. When can we be there?
While pondering such issues, it fell hard on me, like a load of gold bricks sold on many radio talk shows as a “hedge against hard times.” The economy — and our lifestyle — will NEVER return to how it was. The “good old days” (such as they were) are in the rear view mirror and we have no reverse gear. We cannot turn around and they will not come back.
That’s an upsetting — some might say “terrifying” — concept. Never again will we be able to conduct our lives and businesses like we did “back then.” What we are now experiencing is — and will continue to be — the “New Normal.” Until our last days, and those of our grandchildren, “different” will be “ordinary.” Future generations will study the heyday of the 1990s and early 2000s much the same as we picture the gay 1890s or the early 1920s; wild, excessive, booming — and only imaginable as images in history books.
I don’t mean to be a downer, but it’s time we bow to an ever-apparent reality and accept facts for what they are, not what we long for them to be. Denying the obvious delays the inevitable, which furthers great hurt and denigrates our lives. Striving to maintain an illusory status quo by rejecting reality prolongs its effects; and makes worse the pain.
Having said that, I do pride myself on being positive, while understanding that the set up of this column might appear less than optimistic. Yet, it can be. Due to this unhappy situation in which we find ourselves mired, we are becoming more resourceful, better planning our expenses, accepting gratification in that which we took for granted previously, and we are contributing more to our local communities.