Lao Tzu, the Swine Flu and the Global Financial Crisis
(Or Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!)
by Rev Gregory Possman
Lao Tzu once said, “What a caterpillar considers the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly." The television networks, the radio and the newspapers are constantly barraging us with more bad news including the Swine Flu outbreak, the global financial crisis and anything else they can report. With all of the bad news, we could have difficulty getting enough motivation to get out of bed in the morning.
To have compassion for those who have succumbed to the Swine Flu is important. To have compassion for those who have lost their jobs, lost their retirement pensions, or lost their investments is important. The statistics don’t lie. Unemployment is hitting record levels in many countries. National debt is also hitting record levels in many countries. In the USA, it’s estimated that for every dollar the Federal Government spends, it borrows 46 cents. That means the government is borrowing 46 percent of all the money it spends. As an entrepreneur myself, I would be awfully nervous if I were borrowing 46 percent of every dollar I spent. I doubt if my business would last very long if I were to continue such a spending pattern.
Is it a planetary crisis? Are the prophets who are predicting Armageddon correct? Is this the beginning of the end? Of course it is, if you believe it is. The key is to look at what’s happening in your own life and in your mind rather than focusing on the unconscious collective’s bleak outlook. When we step back, and see the good in our lives, this time of challenge becomes a wondrous time to test our belief systems and to take inventory of our strengths. Perhaps we can all ask ourselves if we’re the eternal optimist, seeing the opportunities in our lives, or are we listening to the news every day, playing the eternal pessimist, waiting for the next crisis in our life to present itself. Indeed, if you’re looking for the crisis, you will certainly create it. On the other hand, if you’re seeing the glass half full, rather than half empty, then your focus on optimism will create wonderful opportunities for you.
Some tools to make this happen:
1. Adapt an attitude of gratitude. Emphasize and intensify your gratefulness for all you are, all you do and all you have. This is a key to seeing the opportunities in our lives.
When our ego begins comparing what we had, who we were or where we worked, to the current situation in our lives, we are distracted and everything begins looking like a dark cloud overhead. Staying in the past is the best way to destroy our ability to create a bright future. We can’t identify our possibilities in life when all we can think of is how it should have, would have or could have been. By being grateful for what and whom we have in our life, we must focus on the present.
2. We can become acutely aware of when we’re fantasizing and redirect our attention to the present. What difference does it make, pondering the way things could have turned out? Those are fantasies. None of those situations even approach reality.
To believe in oneself and one’s ability to create whatever one desires, is an approach that few in life are able to maintain. Stop hoping for a future; rather, create that future.
3. Take action now and stop procrastinating. Make the phone call, speak to the person who can help you and stop making up reasons in your mind why things won’t work. When we concentrate on them, they become our reality.
Not many on our planet have the confidence to shoot for the stars and perhaps achieve the moon. The moon is not such a humble objective when you start your journey on the Earth. Will you be considered a ‘dreamer”? No doubt! Will people criticize you and mock you. No doubt! When they do, and they will, that can motivate you even more to dig deep inside, seeking your courage, your conviction and your commitment.
Spend time with those who believe in you and leave your critics behind. Listen to those who tell you how you can and not those who tell you why you can’t! Many on the planet believe nothing will ever work. What doesn’t work in their life has nothing to do with yours, unless you let it. Life is like the lottery, there’s no guarantee you’ll win if you play but you’re guaranteed not to win if you don’t buy a ticket. Are you playing to win, or playing not to lose?
Decide to leave your caterpillar self and become the butterfly that Lao Tzu talks about. The world’s financial crisis isn’t your crisis. Our future is so bright we need shades! People are wonderful, business is great and I love my life. Change your attitude and you change your reality. Try it for one day. If you can’t last a whole day, try it for an hour, tomorrow, two hours and keep adding more time every day. It will work. People around you will ask you what you’re doing and why you’re different. That’s the barometer that tells you its working. You will become one of the most beautiful butterflies on the planet and the last thing you will think about is the Swine Flu or the Global Financial Crisis!
Ashid, (Gregory’s soul name) is a trance and conscious channel for the Master Teacher Spirit, the Archangel Michael, Sananda (the Christ), The Council of Shambhala, Kwan Yin, Ling, the Ancient of Days, the Council of Grandfathers and several others. Ashid works privately with clients in person and via phone.
Gregory is the author of “Future Vision, A Spiritual Guide to the New Millennium.” He travels throughout the world, leading spiritual journeys, facilitating ceremony and presenting workshops. In 2010 he will lead a journey to Iceland.
He has been a contributing writer for “Shared Visions” and “Contact Forum” magazines.
As a Minister Director and International Vice- President of the Universal Brotherhood Movement Inc, a nondenominational organization, Gregory has ordained ministers around the world. You can learn more about how Gregory can assist you by checking his websites, www.gregorypossman.com, or www.gregorypossman.dk. E-mail him at gregory821@gregorypossman.com. Rev Possman is also available for private recorded channeled phone consultations.
Gregory is a proud grandfather, father and a loving husband. He resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with his wife, Sandra, and their two cats Gracie and Savannah.
