If we wind the clock back a few years, we were being told that the British economy was growing and was one of the strongest in the West.  We had inflation under control and our banking & financial sector that was one of the best in the the world.  House prices were soaring and shares were going up.  Fast forward to today and we are embroiled in a global financial crisis, house prices are tumbling and we appear to be on the edge of a precipice.

Has anything real changed?  I’m not sure that it has.  It is just what we are thinking and what we are telling each other.  Which is right “Housing is scarce, you have to jump on the bandwagon, because you can’t lose out.”  or “There is a crisis!  Prices are tumbling!  You can’t get a loan..”  I’m not denying how tough it is now for many, nor am I buying into either version of these stories. 

I don’t think that there can be many folks who have not been affected by what is going on in the stock markets.  Like many people, I’ve been saving little by little, have a few shares and a pension fund.  The other day I was tempted to find out how this all had affected my family.  Then I stopped myself.  After all what good could the information do me?  What action could I take on it?  Nothing!  I have no control over this.  There is nowhere outside the system.  However, be absolutely clear, for everyone who is losing out now, there will be another who is a winner.  I am sure that there are people who will make an absolute fortune from the misfortune of others.

Yesterday I was watching a rugby game.  It was so one sided that I walked out at half time.  My side had hardly touched the ball; they didn’t enter the opposing side’s half and were lucky to not be down by more than 19-3!  Later that day I discovered that they had won by 29-22.  What had changed?  How was this possible?  It was pretty much the same 30 men on the field.  I think that the answer to both the economic and sporting question is the only thing that changed was what people thought / felt.

What we think transforms our lives.  I think it was Henry Ford who was supposed to have said “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”   I can understand anyone feeling a bit concerned now, that is only natural.  However, acting from a place of fear is seldom a recipe for success.  There are as many opportunities out there today as there were yesterday, probably more!  You are just as capable today.  Believe in yourself, and commit to action.  One of the principles of Aikido says “Perform with confidence”, without this you are cutting yourself off from the source of your own power.  How can you inspire a sense of confidence in others if you are doubting yourself?

“If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.”  Henry Ford