Opposing the Spirit of Fear

Yesterday at church, I got into a conversation with my friend Wayne, who is a CPA. It’s tax season here in the US, which means it’s his busiest time of the year. Wayne does the taxes for a lot of business people and entrepreneurs, and he made a comment that caught my attention.

Wiping off fear

“I think maybe the economy is turning around,” he said. “At least I’m hearing that from a lot of my clients.”

I was so encouraged to hear him say those words. But probably not for the reason you may suspect. I did not need a report to tell me that the economy is “turning around”…

I don’t rely on the economy for my financial security, nor the success of my business.

I believe that we can always choose our response to whatever economic winds may be blowing, and that there is always opportunity on that wind.

The period in US history when the most millionaires were created was right on the heels of the Great Depression. There’s a lesson in there, for those who have ears to hear.

No, what encouraged me about Wayne’s statement was the fact that he made it. That he and I are part of the same “tribe”. The tribe that believes focusing on the good news is what brings more good news. Focusing on the bad news will only get you more bad news. In my humble, but accurate, opinion.

I told Wayne that I appreciated his observation, and I also commented that it wasn’t the kind of observation you will hear on network news. And this is your take away, Constant Reader, from today’s post: ignore the mass media messages of gloom and doom.

Those messages are not created for your encouragement. They are created to get ratings. And in the news business there is a saying: “if it bleeds, it leads.”

And if it isn’t bleeding, they will find a way to make it look as if it is.

If you find yourself watching network TV, and they’re doing a story on the economy, watch what happens even if there is good news.

A story that starts with words like this: “New figures show that housing starts are up, the stock market is on the rise, and interest rates are going down…” will inevitably turn a corner when the reporter will say something like, “but that doesn’t help John Doe, who just went bankrupt and whose business has collapsed.”

Stop watching that garbage. Stop participating in conversations where the focus is on what is wrong with the world.

The spirit of our day, created by big media and big politics, is fear.

Be a person who has an opposite spirit. Oppose the spirit of fear.

I leave you with this thought: the Bible says that God did not give us a spirit of fear… so who do you suppose did?

Ray Edwards is a world-renowned copywriter and communications strategist, writing for some of the most powerful voices in leadership and business including New York Times bestselling authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul) and Tony Robbins. Ray is a sought-after speaker and author, hosts a popular weekly podcast, and blogs at RayEdwards.com.