Doom and Gloom on Wall Street and Main Street
I love to wake up in the morning and read the latest business news, check the markets, see if oil has breached the $100 a barrel point, and generally see what is going on in the world. I am not a professional economist, just a rank amateur with a healthy interest in how our capitalist system works. So I have to ask, is all the dark prognostication in the media fueling our downward economic trend?
In the world of personal development, we talk about creating our reality by the thoughts and words we choose daily. Does this same principle spill over into economics, where a few well meaning stock market bears point out all of the problems and get people fretting over the negatives, while completely ignoring the positives? I worry that by focusing so much attention on the economy, and the things that aren’t so perfect about it right now, we are building a self fulfilling prophecy that will inevitably lead to more economic volatility and recession.
A couple of recent articles from the blogosphere triggered these thoughts:
- Are We In a Small Business Recession over at Duct Tape Marketing is a recent podcast that predicts trouble ahead for small businesses, and provides some strategies for staying ahead of the curve.
- Tara over at Better For Business has written a couple of articles recently about the negative business environment as she sees it.
I understand that we can’t bury our heads in the sand and ignore the market realities. Our economy does appear to have a touch of a cold right now, but will it get better by constantly talking about how bad the cold is and how long it is going to last? Or is there a different way to think and talk about the economy that can bring hope and optimism instead of fueling fear?
I am really asking a question here more than stating an opinion. Maybe the way we are dealing with the economy right now is the best way we can. Maybe the pessimism and fear is really the best thing for our ailing markets in some perverse way I don’t understand. What do you think? Are you a little scared by the current market uncertainties? Do you fear a recession? Share your thoughts below.
