I am really concerned this week about the negativity surrounding the slow down of our economy and the ensuing financial crisis. Too many of us are seeing the world with metaphorically ‘dark glasses’, which is leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy of doom and gloom. The fundamentals of our economy are reasonably sound but the more we emphasise the negatives, the more we will reinforce the downturn. This is not to downplay the seriousness of the sub-prime and credit situation, but for the psychological well-being of the population it really is important to try and emphasise the positive as well. So, looking at it from a positive perspective, this slowdown may mean that we will all reflect more on the importance of our work-life balance, on investing in relationships at work and at home and on the quality of our lives, rather than the acquisition of material goods.
It is always better to see the metaphorical glass as half full rather than half empty – to see how we can improve our working lives, to treat people properly at work and in our community: In essence, to contribute to changing aspects of our lives for the better rather than emphasising why things can’t be done! Much of this is reflected in the rise of the discipline of Positive Psychology – which focuses on the fact that we end up with better outcomes when we interpret the things that happen in life positively. There is now a great deal of research evidence to show that this is the case and it offers lessons for us all during this period of instability. Our reactions to a potential economic downturn don’t have to be negative, or, as Confucius said, “Our greatest honour is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall”.
