Doom and Gloom

[jawillie]

How do you remain in spirit when the world is doom and gloom around you?

Is it selfish to not buy into it?

I do not watch the news. I can't at this early stage in my quest for living consciously. It effects me too deeply. (the negativity)

I talked to my brother this weekend (he is 42 with a wife and twin boys who are 11). He was just SOOO down on life. He is panicked about the economy. He is worried about gas prices. He feels everything is bad. I know his wife is super-negative, so that can't help..

I mean, with all the crappy stuff happening around you, are you ALLOWED to feel happy? I am genuinely NOT worried about the economy. I am NOT worried about gas prices. I figure if things change, they will change. We will adapt. We will go on like we always do. I don't buy into the doom and gloom mentality that the media seems to be selling. (and most of my friends and family are buying)

But, one friend said, "It doesn't do anyone any good to meditate how great life is when it isn't." That's NOT what I am doing. I am starting a new business that could potentially provide dozens of jobs for people. My brother asks how I can start a new business in such unstable times? My business is revolving around kids.. trust me.. it will always be needed! lol People keep producing, don't they? But, even if it wasn't... WHY would I just curl up in a ball and wait for the end of the world?? WHy do people do that?

So, it's not selfish of me to be an optimist, is it? Or am I just lying to myself?

I thank you for any input.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

A lot of people around me wonder why I am not scared. And it's strange that while I was very fearful just a short time ago, I can honestly ask them now "what is there to be afraid of." I can't think of anything, up to and including death, that I should be afraid of. It's becomming easier and easier not to worry as I trust that whatever I need will be provided to me, or that the resources for me to find what I need are within me.

I like your attitude. I don't see what worrying and being upset all of the time will do to make anything better anyway. If anything, it's the people who believe things can be better that will make them so.

[jawillie]

Originally Posted by {aspiring_to_clarity}

A lot of people around me wonder why I am not scared. And it's strange that while I was very fearful just a short time ago, I can honestly ask them now "what is there to be afraid of." I can't think of anything, up to and including death, that I should be afraid of. It's becomming easier and easier not to worry as I trust that whatever I need will be provided to me, or that the resources for me to find what I need are within me.

I like your attitude. I don't see what worrying and being upset all of the time will do to make anything better anyway. If anything, it's the people who believe things can be better that will make them so.

Yes that is how I feel, too. I am truly NOT worried, I am not "lying to myself" like my friend like to imply. I am not sitting on the floor all day meditating that everything is "wonderful." I simply believe that I always have what I always need. And, change is not always bad.

I also found this quote. I love it!

“The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.”–Benjamin Franklin

So no matter what the gas prices are, I can pursue happiness. I should probably check out the thread about government and happiness... I haven't looked at it, yet, but this seems to be pretty close to the idea of that thread.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by jawillie

I don't buy into the doom and gloom mentality that the media seems to be selling. (and most of my friends and family are buying)

I'm glad you posted this, jawillie. Yesterday I protested a doomsayer post and now I recognize why I felt drawn to say what I had to say to and about him. You've helped me to see something -- I don't think I would have even been interested enough to reply to that guy except for the doom and gloom I've noticed, too, in the media and in conversations lately.

It's as if we're only 'allowed' to be as happy as the least happy person among us.

Yesterday on CNN (while I was working out -- the only time I see the news; fortunately I don't have to hear it!) there was a feature on "The National Bad Mood." Also, someone told me yesterday that gas prices are the primary indicator of how good people feel, and that we should hurry and make some stupid, "feel-good" comedy films because of the zeitgeist people will want to 'escape.' That's very funny, isn't it -- like I'm going to adjust my creative expression to pander to The National Bad Mood!

I think a big part of the suffering of The National Bad Mood, and any suffering really, is thinking Things Should Be Other Than What They Are. It's not even a matter of being optimistic about things getting better, although that probably feels better. It's a matter of realizing that right now, right here , I (you) are safe and supported. We're ok. Actually I'm way better than ok right here and right now. You may have to look under your emotions about the past and future, which don't exist. Even if we do have the apocalypse in front of us (), suffering from emotions NOW about possible future events is like borrowing from the future and the debt is payable immediately. Why would we suffer about something that is not happening?

When you practice generating what you want to generate, you get better and stronger at making your inspiring possibility for yourself and the world. Why would you not make hay while the sun shines? Why not, in times when you are not being challenged to capacity, be a Generator -- someone who is making a difference right now? Someone who can make really effective choices about her Next Right Action, free of reaction and full of abundant, joyful response? That's the kind of person who can make a difference in circumstances in which we are being challenged to capacity.

The person who practices war, fear, and pain all his life is not going to be a person who makes a difference for people during the apocalypse. The person who practices generating love, joy, freedom, connection, peace, etc... inspiring ways of being... THAT's the person who is the true leader in times that are challenging or not, the kind of person who leads us to becoming more and more of who we really are -- unlimited joy and abundance.

Wouldn't it be a little selfish NOT to do that?

[Plato]

What's life without doom and gloom?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Plato

What's life without doom and gloom?

Infinite Joy and Abundance.

[Plato]

glory times

[Buttercat Apocalypse]

Negativity solves nothing.

HAtred gives you strength to destroy an opponent in front of your eyes. If you're watching the news let it go, what good is it to you?

[nightdiamond]

One way to see it differently is to take a good look at the past.... go back 50, 60, 100 years and beyond.... Human rights laws, not as many... food, a risk of disease... diseases and treatment, not very good or as good...

Go back a few thousand and we've hit the optimists jackpot

Why not think things are better than ever? Right now you can sit down and type a few words into a computer, and watch a favorite episode of something, get tons of info on the subject you want, play games, reread mail, ect, ect, ect! And computers are much easier to get now than ever...

We enjoy simple medical advancements people of the past could only dream about once... Food, more tasteful, more variety, more healthier and health conscious because of advanced decontamination procedures...

Human rights laws in many places are more in force in the past that's for certain, freedom of speech (at least in more places now) exists making life and expression so much easier....

Opportuniy... there's lots of it...an immigrant comming here would almost certainly think that...


It's usually common and normal for people to think things are gloomier than they really are.. perhaps mostly habit depending on whose doing the thinking...If the person has a computer, a car, a house, nice food to eat

But on the nice side, these persons could be just sensative to other people's problems even if on the other side of the world..we need people like those....

Take care everyone...

[Rockchick26]

Most people are pessimists,i think. And that is why the collective view of the world is going to be negative. It's hard dealing with negative people when you are positive,it's easier to join them and whine right along with them. For example,at my job they send people home with no pay if there isnt enough work to do. And people walk out crying,bitching,screaming at anyone within earshot,and they're still bitching the next day when we come back. I walk out smiling. But when one of them sees that i'm not upset,they almost get more angry! They're like "You might not care about this,but i can't pay my bills when i don't get paid!" They almost get more angry at people who don't share in their negative feelings. That is why the world is primarily pessimistic. I wish there was a way around this because if only people were optimistic,that alone would help a lot of the problems go away.

[DayInTheLife]

Is it selfish to not buy into it?

No, the opposite. To buy into doom and gloom is to shirk responsibility for one's life.

Your attitude makes sense. Your friend's doesn't.

Worried about gas prices... ridiculous. Continue to be a good example for others.

[awakentransform]

Originally Posted by jawillie

How do you remain in spirit when the world is doom and gloom around you?

This is the true test of our spirituality. Of course it's easy to be spiritual when life is easy. I look at this current state of affairs as a wonderful opportunity to strenghten my spiritual "muscles."

Fear is a very contagious emotion. You are smart to cut off your media exposure. Other good immunity boosters are to spend regular time in nature and to connect daily to your higher self. Meditation connects us to the timeless reality of unlimited joy and abundance - everything else is transitory.

I often feel it's a waste of energy to try to sway naysayer's opinions. Fear is exciting! People don't realize how addicted they are to the drama. The best thing we can do is set good examples and show how wonderful life can be to follow our truth.

[selfimprovement]

Originally Posted by jawillie

How do you remain in spirit when the world is doom and gloom around you?

Is it selfish to not buy into it?

I do not watch the news. I can't at this early stage in my quest for living consciously. It effects me too deeply. (the negativity)

I talked to my brother this weekend (he is 42 with a wife and twin boys who are 11). He was just SOOO down on life. He is panicked about the economy. He is worried about gas prices. He feels everything is bad. I know his wife is super-negative, so that can't help..

I mean, with all the crappy stuff happening around you, are you ALLOWED to feel happy? I am genuinely NOT worried about the economy. I am NOT worried about gas prices. I figure if things change, they will change. We will adapt. We will go on like we always do. I don't buy into the doom and gloom mentality that the media seems to be selling. (and most of my friends and family are buying)

But, one friend said, "It doesn't do anyone any good to meditate how great life is when it isn't." That's NOT what I am doing. I am starting a new business that could potentially provide dozens of jobs for people. My brother asks how I can start a new business in such unstable times? My business is revolving around kids.. trust me.. it will always be needed! lol People keep producing, don't they? But, even if it wasn't... WHY would I just curl up in a ball and wait for the end of the world?? WHy do people do that?

So, it's not selfish of me to be an optimist, is it? Or am I just lying to myself?

I thank you for any input.

The best way I remain in good spirits when the rest of the world is in "doom and gloom" is to not judge and allow their experiences. The "doom and gloom" are states of being and experiences that others at some level are choosing to have for whatever reason that is beyond my understanding. They may be going through these experiences so they can truly know the difference between living conditionally and living unconditionally. When you can look at others and allow them their experiences unconditionally, you don't get wrapped up with feelings of judgment, blame, guilt or shame.

One thing that will happen when you begin to feel guilty because you are happy and they are struggling, is that you will eventually slide right down there with them. You can't remain in a state of being unconditional (experiencing grace, ease and abundance) when you are feeling guilty. This is another reason why it is important to remain unconditional and not judge their experiences as being "awful" or not.... what you judge, you become.

[bellemeadows]

While some things David Hawkins says, I find I disagree with. One thing I heartily agree with is that the world is shifting to a more positive vibration. I feel the difference. I believe he said the shift from overall negative (slightly) to positive (slightly) occurred in 1988.

I don't think that the happenings in the world are any less negative; still there is warfare, famine, unkindness, etc., etc., etc., I do feel like it is easier to find the positive. It also seems to me like more people are finding the positive, viewing their life from a more positive perspective.

Just my opinion; the temptation to view the world through gloom and doom is always there, and that is always a possibility for us. I am, personally, grateful for the positive shift. I work out there in the professional world. Even there, I find more positive, caring, sharing, etc., and less self-absorbed narcicism. Still that other is there -- it just doesn't feel like it is as prevalant, and so many people now show up genuinely loving, serving, empathetic.

It has been wonderful for me. I now work with people who are wonderful. Even 20 years ago, perhaps the wonderful people were there, but it seemed like they were fewer and further between.

This is a very subjective thing; still it truly feels to me like there is more a more positive bent.

One thing Hawkins says is that the more the positive, the more pressure there is on the negative to act up to show up. I think that is happening as well.

Just some thoughts -- who knows for sure; all I can say is that is how it feels for me. Blessings from Belle,

[Mags]

Jawillie, think of your positive attitude and energy as a gift to the world. Negative energy adds to the energetic pollution of the world and simply creates more negative situations for people to complain about. Positive energy, however, can counteract this - it will make a big difference in your life, but also contribute to the uplifting of the collective consciousness.

Ultimately, it is the effect of those who are thinking positively and taking inspired action (e.g. like you are doing with your business that will create employment for others) that will bring the world economy out of recession... so, no, you're definitely not being selfish by remaining optimistic!

Perhaps you could ask the "doom-and-gloomers" next time, just what it is exactly that they're doing to help the world?!