How to Stay Sane in Times of Economic Crisis

The world economy has never been so volatile and uncertain in recent years. If history is any guide to go by, this is a normal turn of event. Recession has hit different parts of the world at different time before this, and every time, eventually the mess gets cleaned up. The only problem is; no one knows how long it's going to take to get conditions to stabilize. At times of such uncertainty, the general state of mind for most people is that of indifference, doubt, anxiety, frustration, and the like. Though there is one emotional factor which can make any crisis worse than it already is; fear. Fear prevents people from thinking rationally. It clouds up people's perception of what is really going on. Sometimes, it can even magnify the actual issue in the person's mind, which if not remedied can lead to paranoia and violence. This is something every human being is susceptible to, unless careful steps are taken to prevent it. So how can you as an individual, protect yourself and others from getting into such states of mind?

Calm your mind. Learning to keep your mind calm is very crucial in your struggle to stay sane. Your mind is like the surface of a lake, which reflects reality to you. If the lake is disturbed, the surface reflection is distorted. In the same way, if you learn to calm your mind, you can see reality as it really is, undistorted. Some ways to achieve a calm state of mind are:

Progressive relaxation

Meditation

Yoga, Tai Chi and other similar forms of martial arts

Get connected to your creator. Having someone to turn to and ask for help in times of despair and helplessness, will give you the faith, and courage to go on with your life. The knowing that you are not alone, and that there is someone to help you, can do miracles for you and others in your life.

Protect your body. Your body is that which houses your mind. It needs adequate quantities of food, water, sleep and exercise. Don't deprive your body of what it needs, at the same time, don't overfeed it. Strike a balance. Just doing this alone can keep you in an excellent state of mind, helping you deal with the daily challenges of life.

Count your blessings. How unfortunate are you really? Have you lost a limb, an eye, your mind or your loved ones? Are you totally broke or even worse in debt, with no one to turn to? Can't you afford at least one meal a day? Chances are, if you are reading this, none of the above applies to you. Count your blessings. Find out what the good things in your life are, and be thankful for it. When you see how rich you really are, your problems magically disappear. Try it right now.

Volunteer for a worthy cause. Get involved in a cause bigger than yourself. If your mind is occupied helping others who are less fortunate, your own problems seem insignificant. Also, when you help others, your deeds are rewarded many folds.

Get Busy. Lost your job? Get busy still. Go meet your friends. Watch a movie. Solve a puzzle. Read a book. Cook. Do something. Don't just sit around and brood. Remember the saying. 'The idle mind is a devil's workshop'. Physical and mental activity has the power to heal many wounds.

Focus on things you can do something about and do it. Stop worrying about the weather; it won't change if you worry. Seems silly? Yet, this is what most of us are involved in. Worrying about the recession, the stock market, the future, the in-laws, and the list just goes on. In the words of the Dalai Lama "If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever." So, don't worry.

Accept the worst. Ask yourself 'What's the worst thing that can happen to me?', then accept it. If you can accept the worst that can happen to you, everything else will seem trivial. You'll find a new sense of freedom and courage in just this one simple exercise. Use that freedom and courage to your advantage to conqure fear.

Be skeptical. Don't just believe everything you read or hear. Ask yourself, "Is this an opinion, or a fact?" "What are the proofs?" Learn to differentiate the fact from the opinion. Analyze the data, before you act, but don't get stuck in it either. If you find that the news is true after analysis, act immediately.

Stop the Rumor. Rumors have the potential to destroy the world. Rumors spread fear faster than anything else in the world. With the advent of email and social networking, the process has become even more faster, and much more difficult to tame. If you are on the receiving end of a rumor, verify the facts. If you find that you can't verify it, refrain from spreading the rumor. Don't forward that email. This applies even of something that doesn't affect you. The same might be devastating to someone else. So, exercise at most caution in such matters.

This is in no means, a comprehensive list of all the things you can do to protect your state of mind. None the less, these are powerful tools. Be generous and give it away to others in your life. God knows, you might just save a life.