Wealth

Stop “awfulizing” the economy!

By Mark Joyner

Whenever calamity strikes, out come the charlatans!

Despite only a handful of people having enough information to really understand what is really going on in the economy (I´m not one of them), the pundits a-crazy are out in full force. With equal authority and gravitas I have heard the following from the experts

• There is no economic crisis.
• This is the worst the economy has ever been since The Great Depression.
• The worst is yet to come.
• The worst is over.
• Buy lots of stock now.
• Don´t buy any stock now.

What´s the reality?

Well, who knows... In fact, nobody knows. Unless there has been a breakthrough in crystal ball technology – of which I am unaware – no one can yet accurately predict the future.

Why then do media personalities insist on brow-beating us into believing their predictions?

I´m not a soothsayer nor am I a psychoanalyst, so I won´t attempt to answer that question. I like to deal in what can actually be known and observed. So, let´s outline a few things you can actually know.

• It´s OK to say you don´t understand if you don´t. For some reason many people erroneously believe that they are required to have an opinion about everything. Practice this phrase: "I don´t know enough about it to really have an informed opinion." Anyone who ridicules that stance may not be healthy company.
• Fortunes have, in fact, been made during times of economic uncertainty. Why can´t that be you? (maybe you´re smarter than I am, but for the life of me I haven´t been able to think up a good reason.)
• Throwing up your hands and giving up will not help. Ever.
• Worrying will not help. Ever.
• "Awfulizing" is a term used by Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapists to describe the unhealthy habit of imagining something is as bad as it possibly can be. Don´t.
• If you´re a member of the media, stop hyperbolizing about the "crisis." Yes, causing panic so you can have a "story" causes harm. Knock it off.
• Finally, don´t use "tough times" as an excuse for inaction.

If you read my column last month you´ll remember that I said you were a privileged child of the new Rome (proven by the very fact that you´re reading this).

That hasn´t changed.

If you´re feeling sorry for yourself, read up about people living in hell of Darfur, the open air prison of Gaza, or anywhere else in the world that isn´t benefitting from the freedoms you enjoy.

Back already? OK, now that you know what´s going on there, do you still think you have it bad?

Heck, maybe the real question isn´t "what will you do to get through today´s tough times" but "what non-violent things will you do today to ensure the whole world shares the freedom and privilege you do?"