Abundance in a Recession

Business is sparse... people are thinking before they spend. What does this mean to you?

For many it meant: they have left the field.

For many, they came back after trying to make it in retirement.

For many: trouble is brewing. Rent is late, car payment is late, website is suspended.

So what can you do? If you are smart. (If you are dumb, or live in hope: I am not talking to you.)

I have distinguished three areas where you need to take action.

1. Economy


2. Priorities


3. Mindset

It is impossible to separate these... they intertwine, so here it is, with some organization.

Economy: You need to examine all your expenses and either eliminate them completely or replace them with a cheaper version.

Priorities: You need to set straightforward priorites. When you set them, look for guidance into what will have the longest impact on your life. If you look back, five years from now, what was relevant and important, and what was unimportant.

My suggestion is that you make a list like this:

1. health. physical, emotional, psychic, intellectual well being.



2. integrity. having no unpaid bills, no debts to pay, nothing that would force you to do something immoral or unethical in an extreme situation.



3. planning for the future



4. everything else. I put here having a boyfriend, entertainment, looking good, etc. here.

OK. about health. what do I mean? Having a lean and mean body that supports you all the way is a number 1 priority. It can only be accomplished with healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle is cheap. If you look at an African tribe: they are healthy. They are beautiful. And they live on almost nothing. When they move to the United States and get caught up in the American lifestyle they get fat, tired, unmotivated, and sick.

So what does it take you today, here in the United States?
Answer: many nos and a few yeses.

Nos:

• no sugar. not by itself, not in anything. no store bought cerial, no store bought pasta dishes, no restaurant food.



• no milk. milk has more artificial and harmful additives than most anything in this country. According to my own experimentation, all my health problems ceased when I finally cut out milk. And I was addicted to it. When I went to Dunkin Donuts I asked them to put a little coffee into my cream.



• no expensive but low value foods



• no time with negative friends/family



• no complaining. none. zero. Complaining attracts more reasons to complain. Even if it is not YOUR complaining, just listening to complaining makes you an accomplice.



• no addictions. of any kind.



• Trust that everything will be ok and be willing to do what it takes to make it happen.

Yes:

• simple foods



• lots of clean water



• fresh air



• clean, quiet, well aired sleeping quarters (no TV in the bedroom)



• Positive outlook friends



• Read inspiring literature



• lots of movement

I have weathered three major "localized" recession (hard times) in my life. I have learned to become pro-active (as opposed to reactive.)

These are the measures I have made in my life in the past four months:

1. I have eliminated all subscriptions that I could do without. I have moved some of my websites to cheaper hosting. I have stopped buying books I never read. Clothes I never wear.



2. I have done away with hair coloring, and had my hair cut such that it looks good with my natural hair color.



3. I am not traveling. I used to spend a lot of money on traveling. Instead I am concentrating on what can be done at home... that doesn't cost money.



4. I have changed my diet and lifestyle. I cook oatmeal every morning. I cook rice every other day. I do my shopping at Aldi (it is not in every state, sorry guys in Texas, for example) where they only carry one brand of anything. I stock up on their great quality canned vegetables, alaskan salmon, rice, and some condiments. I buy their fresh salad packs, their onion, their grapefruits. I bought half a pound of curry powder at my local coop.
   
   I make curried rice with sauteed onions and combine it with the vegetables, or the salmon, or the condiments, in a way that the food tastes gourmet and it is good for you. And it leaves me satisfied. It has no sugar, no additives,

I have managed to stabilize my expenses in these four months such that now I have some leftover money at the end of the month. I have been able to resume tithing which is a very important spiritual practice of mine.

Oh, last but not least: you may need to spend money or time or both on your marketing. Reciprocal links, toplists, forums, listings... whatever you can. Revise your ads that they reflect a cheerful attitude, change your password that it reflects a positive attitude about yourself, your business, and about your clients. If I am talking to you, you know it... ;-)

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