by Mario Carini

Created on: January 03, 2011   Last Updated: January 05, 2011

Few people today find it easy to cope with the many uncertainties that life presents. Economic hardship and a world becoming increasingly dangerous have many unsure of themselves and which direction they should take their lives.

Depression, anxiety, fear and worry are common bed mates. To cope, many turn to strong drink, drugs, food and sex to help forget their problems. But these methods provide temporary relief and never solve the problems of insecurity.

Some people appear to have a natural inclination to stay positive despite the negatives around them. They often suffer the from same problems, yet manage to carry that “stiff upper lip”. They find it easier to adjust to their new surroundings and thrive even while others languish in despair.

But what makes them different is not some ability they learned at school or inherited the right genes. They didn't always have someone to encourage them. They were positive because they learned that worrying never resolves difficulties.

It's hard to stay positive when your fears weigh so heavily when you have little hope that anything will ever change for the better. But the first step is to realize that both good or bad never last forever. There needs to be periods of prosperity and periods of want. The technique, if there is one, is to adjust and look at problems as opportunities.

When your problems have you frozen and unsure of where to take your life, the best antidote is to set down a plan that can help you minimize the damage caused by the problem. As most people fail to plan anything other than weddings and vacations, this period of difficulty offers the best opportunity to challenge your abilities to solve those difficulties. Putting down a plan helps you to see that there is a solution and helps generate enthusiasm.

If you feel so far gone, one good technique is to write down all the successes you've had in the past. Along with it, write down and review all the things you can be thankful for. Focusing on past successes takes your mind off worry and often brings a solution that you would never think about under a spirit of fear and worry.

Fear feeds on itself and the best way to dispel fear is by taking action. Once you have a plan in place, you need to act. Procrastination kills desire. If you feel you are destined to fail, you can't go wrong by taking some action that improves your chances of success. Even if what you do does fail, you can learn from your mistakes and continue to improve.

In today's world so many feel they must run the treadmill. There's always time to pray or meditate. The ability to take time off from the routine is critical to finding the encouragement needed to weather the storms of life.

Those who live in wealthy nations become used to a high standard of living. Many feel it beneath their dignity if they must downsize their lifestyle. Rather than sell that second car, or cut back on lavish entertainment expenses, they feel the need to take a second job. But that may do nothing to support an inflated lifestyle.

Finding encouragement means more than picking yourself up by your bootstraps. No one succeeds unless they work together toward a common goal. A positive economic climate encourages people to become selfish and greedy. But a depressed climate forces people to get together and rely on each other to solve the problems they all share. Encouragement comes from contact with those neighbors you don't know and those less fortunate that needs a helping hand.

These points can help you focus on the need to take action and reestablish a close-knit community that fosters the strength of business and the nation.

Learn more about this author, Mario Carini.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.