Is the economy as bad as it sounds? Maybe. Actually, probably. Well, really, yes it is. But…it is what it is. You can make it better for yourself, or worse. Victor Frankl faced one of the worst trials in human history, the concentration camps, and he discovered something that enabled him to survive:
“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man, but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Maybe this sounds familiar: The economy stinks! Production is down! New patients aren’t coming in! No one is accepting treatment! My staff doesn’t get it, and now they want raises! How much longer can I make it? These are the things we tell and ask ourselves, and others. These are the things that keep us awake at night. These are the things that make us feel hopeless and helpless. They will keep having that effect if we don’t face them head on and deal with them. That’s the hard news, but wait, there’s good news, too. There are things you can do to ride out the economy, and even proper while doing it.
When I say you can make it better, I don't necessarily mean you can make it easy. I can't tell you how to go through this economy without any difficulty, But, I think I can help give you a different perspective. We have to learn to define what is important. What do we absolutely need, what do we want, and what would it be nice to have, but could wait? Is it more important to prosper alone, or more gratifying to have a little less, but know you’ve helped someone else hang on? Can you look at difficulty as an opportunity to grow stronger and help others do the same? If you can, this economy may just offer you a chance for so much more personal growth and satisfaction than you ever imagined.
What I want you to do now is this: think about the questions about what you need, want and could do without if you had to. Think about how you feel about reaching out to help someone who’s struggling more than you are. We’re going to talk about this some more, but first, you need to know where you stand right now.
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