I feel like this time in history aka “the recession” is resonating in some ways with where I’ve been most of my life. For years I’ve been a creative person in the background, making something from nothing, watching people accumulate huge amounts of stuff. I enjoyed traveling, meeting people, and making art – and never had much debt.

Then I got the idea that being a holistic doctor was a better way to contribute to the common good. I borrowed up the wazoo. Out of school, I had money struggles complicated by a series of devastating health crises.

Sadly, I then got seduced into the idea of a house as an investment – thinking I could later sell it to pay off my huge student loans. After buying at the height of the market, my business dipped for the next year and a half. I lost my house last year.

The amazing thing – in this recession- is that my healthcare practice is booming like never before. I also sold 6 paintings in the last 3 months…without having a show. People just started saying they wanted to buy paintings from me.

It’s amazing that everyone around me has been going gangbusters for all the years I struggled and suddenly I’m having some kind of “luck.” I believe it’s because I was resonating with the idea of service and creativity for years…and those concepts are now valued in whole new light. I think this is all about people valuing things that really matter: building relationships differently, giving to others, living more simply, expressing gratitude, and looking deeper into reality.

Thanks for being a voice of sanity – in an ocean of sales pitches, gloom and doomers, and superficial b.s.

Although go look up decimated in the dictionary and I think you’ll find the financial sector is no where close to decimation; they surpassed that a long time ago.

The times of worry, guilt, fear and scarcity is coming to an end…the transition from a society based on self interest and personal profit toward a society based on harmonious health and unity is being created. It’s a joy to be living in the most exciting time ever in human history. The doom and gloom mentality which was seemingly so real is starting to crumble as people become aware of who they really are. I never would have thought that I would enjoy living in the “scary economic collapse”, but I would rather be living in this time than any other.

We are starting to take back our power…..

I’ve been on a hardcore holistic detox evolution during the past 8 months. I’ve been living on raw living plant foods, super foods, meditating, juice feasting, getting all sorts of body work and colonics done, going to group with others, jamming with local musicians, donating, volunteering, gardening, getting our in nature, walking barefoot, drinking spring water, sungazing and I just started foraging. These are the most powerful transformative things that I have found (although I can see how some of the latter seem questionable) and I’m honored to share them with you:) Mind technologies such as paraliminals can also help empower us to serve others. These things resonate with me, and there is so much out there that can help with your creative writing/business endeavors; getting involved in local art classes, dancing, acting….perhaps some of these things can assist you in your purpose. Community, sharing, environment, music, art, spirituality, nature and gardening (among other things) are all very important, but without our basic fundamental physical health how are we going to create and maintain a solid business or life of self employment? How can we be of service to ourselves and others without good health? Holistic health is our best asset toward security, sovereignty and a life of Peace On Earth.

Peace,

Michael

I got laid off in December and are TRULY thankful for what that has given me. The freedom and to be honest the push to make my day and I love every minute of it. I am inspired!!

There’s definitely a chance for us to come out of this stronger and wiser–and make some important Life changes–even at this stage of the game (here, I’m speaking to those my age and older!). I can say this even though I’ve been hit pretty hard by the current downturn. I’m currently working on trying to put together a freelance career. We’ll see how it goes…but at least I’m making the effort!

I sure wish you all the best…and I’ll be back to read more!!

Have a great day,
Sher :0)

At first, I thought I was interviewing for a similar position to the one I had before, and had strictly an “anything to get out of there” mentality. Then I was assigned to a different position with a much slower pace. It took me several months to downshift, but now I have so much more energy and enthusiasm for developing my own business. The ideas are really flowing, and my ability and confidence in my chosen field have greatly improved due to the greater time and attention I’ve been able to devote to working on my skills, network, and infrastructure. I feel like I totally dodged a bullet.

As people review their current working lives and try to plot a course to an improved quality of life, it’s worth considering this: any time you work for someone else, no matter how good you are at the job and how fulfilling you may find it, it’s not YOUR business. That business will succeed or fail based on factors far beyond your control. When you work in YOUR business, on the other hand – even if it is just part-time while you cultivate a clientele – every choice YOU make directly affects your success. It’s very liberating.

So, for me, the good thing about the recession is that it is sort of validating entrepreneurialism. For a long time there, the big “stars” in business were the traders – people who created nothing and provided no real service, who made their money by manipulating markets, in real estate or stocks or whatever. I am hopeful that in the next few years we are going to see a more local economy, a more local agriculture, and a more local focus to business development.

As, during these leaner times, people turn more to their communities, I believe we will begin to see all the opportunities. They may be smaller in scope, but I think we may see a trend toward equating wealth with having ENOUGH, as opposed to having EVERYTHING.

So, my question is not about how one lives in the moment vs. working to have fun for later, but how do you plan for a hoped-for future where you will need money/resources and may not have the physical ability to provide for your needs at that time?