Economic crisis, or inevitable shift?

Wow. Can you even follow, all that is going on in the economic world news these days? Many people are asking - how do I keep my spirit up and my life moving forward when nearly every news story is threatening doom and gloom?

Let's look at some of the Awakened Wisdom principles of living an awakened life and see what they tell us.

1) From a Good State of Understanding. Consider the idea of cycles and timing. The world is taking a big economic in-breath right now. So many years of rapid growth and vigor are now being followed by a time of rebalance and correction. Many of the practices that were put in place to accelerate the world economies have now come back to bite us. I don’t hear anybody arguing the point, that it was the greed of some people inside financial institutions and the greed of the financial system itself that held the accelerator pedal down. Greed over sensibility never works out. So of course now the cycle is playing out. It is time for a correction. A primary problem with most financial systems is that they generally have short-term profit as their guiding principle; artificial acceleration of the drive for profit will inevitably lead to breakdowns. It is not sustainable.

2) A Good State of Intention has us look at what is truly important to us now. We get to use this time to realign with our deeper underlying intentions - in our jobs, in the organizations that we are running, and in our personal lives. When intention is only guided by the energy of the mind, it cannot help but lead us into trouble. Now is a time to bring some heart intelligence back into the system. Mind intelligence, when balanced with heart intelligence, will activate great creativity towards objectives that are more sustainable than those of the old system that seems now to be collapsing around us.

3) A Good State of Words. The words we choose, in the stories we tell ourselves about what is happening now, are setting up our present state of mind. When we speak to our selves, our families, our colleagues, it is important that we speak from the resourcefulness of Divine inner wisdom, rather than from uncertainty or fear. If you are feeling confronted by the current situation then certainly tell that as part of your story. But as you cast yourself as a character in your story, be sure to tell about your resilience and your creativity and how you are finding a way through this time. The media, driven by profits, is telling plenty of dreadful stories that permeate and influence our state of mind. Be discerning about what stories you are listening to. Seek balanced views.

4) A Good State of Being reminds us to look into the relationships of our life including the relationship that we have with our self, our families, and our colleagues. At the end of the day, it’s how you’ve been in these relationships that really matters. For many it is a time to slow down as the storms pass by, to nurture your physical well-being. A good physical well-being will support your emotional being as well. If you are experiencing anger or fear about what is going on in the world at this time, first notice that then ground yourself in your Divine inner wisdom. Spending time in away from the fray, in nature if possible, is one of the most powerful ways to do that.

5) A Good State of Purpose reminds us to look deeper into why we are chasing whatever it is that has us so compelled at the moment. Every now and then we get completely distracted, chasing after a ball that no longer serves us. Step out of the chase for a moment and look again at what is truly important now. What is worthy of your attention according to your heart wisdom?

6) A Good State of Effort. Notice what doors ARE opening now. Trust, and walk through them with ease and delight. In challenging times it is especially important to keep breathing easy and move according to the current of the river in which you find yourself. Sometimes it is time to row harder (though still with ease and delight) and sometimes it is time to pull your paddle out of the water and coast a bit. Relax and consider - what is the right amount of effort for you at this time?

7) A Good State of Practice. When the world around us is shaking, it is easy to put aside your daily practices. Yet this is the most important time to maintain them. Look into your physical practice and take care of your body. What spiritual practice is needed now? This is a good time to practice daily appreciations for whatever you DO have that is truly important in your life right now.

8) A Good State of Doing. Staying engaged in the action of your life is important. Compare the amount of action you’ve been taking with the situation you are now in. As the Northern hemisphere moves towards winter it is time to prepare to slow down for a while. We humans were never meant to run full out forever. Perhaps this is a time to embrace slowing down, finding a different pace that is congruent with the ebb in which we may now find ourselves.

It is easy to move through good times and enjoy life. In challenging times we find out who we really are. This is a good time to notice the wisdom of your heart and to clean up your house of old priorities that no longer fit or serve you.
Even the world economic systems are not immune from this wisdom.

Be well,
Patrick Ryan
www.AwakenedWisdom.com