Fear

Fear, much like enthusiasm, can be contagious. I am concerned that so many, unaware that fear can feed on itself and multiply, are being so fearful and injecting it into those they come into contact with. The web is full of fearful posts, not to mention news outlets which continue to feed the hungry latest-news animals. I was a dedicated Coast-to-Coast-AM listener until I realized it was contributing to my anxiety. Who needs that? I turn on TV, to the money news shows, only to see anxious, sometimes speechless (!) commentators, staring wide-eyed into the camera, like a deer in the headlights. Widespread fear and panic contributed to the "Great Depression". To rephrase FDR, fear is the only thing we have to fear. This is a negative emotion, engendered by negative thoughts. It feeds on itself, until it gets bigger and bigger. "What the world needs now..." is not love, sweet love, but a big dose of positive thinking and positive action. Have great inventions and discoveries come about from negative thinking? I think not. We, in America, are blessed with gifted and talented, creative people. That includes all of us. We each have our own unique abilities. If we would each of us, believe in ourselves, we could conquer what is currently plaguing us. Thinking only negative, doom-type thoughts dams up our creativity and resourcefulness. Once we open ourselves up to the possibilities and to the talents and abilities that are within us, ideas begin to flow. The dam is broken. I choose to see the good around me and to emphasize the positive in my life. If need be, mentally I will put my fingers in my ears and sing as loud as possible to block out all negative noxious clouds of pessimism around me. Don't mistake this as wanting to be blind to all. How can you counteract what you don't know exists? This is being aware, but not choosing to participate in the pity party. Excuse me, but I would like to be part of a solution, not part of downfall.