Good events, innovations and successful results continue to happen, even in challenging economic times. When I have said this I have been met with everything from “that’s right and I need to remember it” to “you’re not facing reality…don’t you watch the TV news programs?” I guess it was the word “reality” that grabbed my attention because who wants to be guilty of not facing reality?
That’s when I remembered an old but valid concept called The Self-fulfilling Prophecy. What I remembered about it is that believing something can, in and of itself, cause it to happen. Not in any mystical or magical way, but by causing people to take actions that will make their prediction come true. Look back on the run on banks in the late 1920’s when people lost confidence in them. Or the companies today that reduce their inventory of products and are then not able to adequately supply their customers. By predicting times will be worse they actually make it happen when they cannot meet customers’ needs.
During the past year there have been plenty of real stories about organizations who are experiencing extremely difficult economic times. But has there been any reporting of organizations that are doing well? Not much. The only things you hear about are “not meeting expectations” or impending take overs. Hey, I know the future is what the stock markets are about, but where is the balance when it comes to good results and solidarity in the face of these economic challenges. Doesn’t this say something about the future as well? When did earning millions or even billions of dollars become a cause for depression and hand wringing? It would be like a great golfing performance followed by predictions of eventual failure, the wrong color shirt being worn and no invitation to next year’s event. For one, I am tired of it. I don’t expect Pollyanna reporting or total happy stuff but I also don’t appreciate the opposite. It offends me on two levels. First it goes against my desire to be a positive human being making positive contributions and second, it creates a self-fulfilling situation, making things worse that they are already.
So let’s turn to what we can do about it. First, we don’t need to feed the negative fires, they are well fed by the news media and people who seem to either wallow or even delight in negative news. We, instead, can spread real positive results that we are involved in or hear about. For example, I am devoting my electronic newsletter in 2009 to Positive Reality. And when I put out a call to clients and associates to provide such examples the response was tremendous. You will see examples of these in upcoming Ezines.
Finally, the word “reality” does not have to imply negative examples. I see the positives all around me when I gauge my perception and priorities accordingly. Let’s all be better examples of the positive and real side of the self-fulfilling prophecy. And one more thing, to the extent you can, hang with people with positive outlooks. Their positive energies will help lift up your mood, your outlook on the future and provide you with solutions. Face reality and embrace it!
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