"Overcoming Fear to Thrive in the Current Economy"

(Part 4 PREVIEW – March 9, 2009)

I expected this article to be out last week, but as I was writing it, several things happened - including even higher than expected unemployment numbers and the stock market going lower than it has been in decades. So, I'm adding some additional material - including a complete Scary Times Financial Plan "Blueprint", which will help guide us all through this financial "crisis".

Here's a preview:

We’re well into the New Year, we have a new President in the U.S., and the economy remains very scary.

The fourth part of the BeHappy!
economic series – which will be out
on March 15th - is all about being ready for anything that happens. To do that, we need to rejuvenate our thinking. Because in reality, what we are experiencing in our economy today may be the "normal" way of life for a long time to come. It could possibly even get worse.

Part 4 will actually be the final “regular” installment of this series. There will be more articles here at behappy101.com about surviving – and thriving – during this economic cycle, but they will be put out only when there is something new to discuss rather than every month or so as with the previous editions. Part 5, for example, will likely be out near the end of the summer (August-September time frame).

So far, with the first three parts of the series, we have dealt with:

• Managing our emotional state – especially fear – and how doing so can help us make it through the current financial situation with less pain and anxiety (Part 1). Click here to read Part 1.
  
  
• “Survival” planning to - at a minimum – get through this recession (and the potential depression) without losing our valuable assets, like our home (Part 2). Click here to read Part 2.
  
  
• Actually creating a proactive plan to get wealthy during this economic downturn (Part 3). Click here to read Part 3.
  

That’s part of what we need to do to get us through this “crisis”. Part 4 will provide the rest. We'll tie up a few loose ends by stepping back, taking a broader, “big-picture” view, summarizing, and combining the concepts from the previous 3 parts to make sure we have a comprehensive emotional, physical, and financial perspective (and a real plan) for any possible scenario which could unfold over the next two to four years.

Part 4 will address things like:

• How to further reduce the fear many of us are feeling
  
• How to be better prepared for a prolonged depression – even if you’ve already lost your job or your home
• What to do NOW to create additional income
  
• What some people are doing to get wealthy over the next couple of years
  
• How to beat your competition (if you own a business) and emerge as one of the leaders in your industry for decades to come
  
• And much more
  

Yes, we are going through an incredible time right now. It may be a
once-in-a-lifetime situation. And we have a choice. We can either be paralyzed by fear, which can lead to financial failure and unhappiness – or we can be empowered to succeed, which can lead to wealth and happiness.

That means...

It's either this:

Or this:

The choice is yours!

So make sure to read or re-read the three previous installments of Overcoming Fear to Thrive in the Current Economic Cycle, then check back here on March 15th (or anytime after) to put it all together and create your happiest possible life by being prepared for whatever unfolds in the months and years to come.

BeHappy! my friends