Happiness Tree

Let's Look at the Global and Local Economy - Understand the Trends and How We Can Use Them to Our Advantage

Working on our personal lives is an ongoing challenge, but we cannot ignore the fact that we live in an interconnected world and that local and global trends effect our income, well-being and happiness. Let me give you my view of where we are; how we got here; where we're going and most importantly, what you can do to improve your economic prospects.

The State of the Global Economy  

Increasingly, the human community is linked economically, since large, developed nations depend more and more on global trade. If an important trading partner is experiencing a downturn in their economy, the exporting country sees reduced sales, which translates to fewer jobs, fewer raw materials purchased and the ripple effect is felt worldwide. If a particular population produces fewer educated workers or if the cost of their wages is too high, the jobs they might have had will be shipped to poorer countries, where the cost of living is lower but where a burgeoning youth is eager for education and a brighter future.

And whereas the U.S. used to be able to rely on the broad shoulders of it's hard working middle class to produce steel, timber, coal and durable goods and thereby drive it's economy, these tasks have steadily moved to Asia, where an exploding population offers high productivity at lower cost and the "Western countries", must now compete for marketshare in a new economy, created by the exponential growth of technology.

But these older workers from previous generations, who grew up using their sweat and labor to earn an income, find it difficult to now retrain their bodies and minds to sit in front of a computer screen and contemplate the surreal world of bits, bytes and the world wide web. So the displaced employees that can afford it have begun retiring in droves. Those that cannot, surrender to remaining under-employed in fields where they can still apply some of the skills they have. To facilitate this, they have to downsize. So they sell their family home in the country and move to the city, where the smaller, more affordable living quarters are available and where public transportation allows them to get around more economically . 

Meanwhile, their children, now approaching adulthood will fail to fledge by 18 or perhaps even 30. Unable to find suitable work and having no way to pay for the rising cost of the education they need to compete in an increasingly specialized economy, they are comfortable to remain at home until such time as they can pool their resources with a future spouse or a live-in partner and begin an independent life. These young adults, realizing their income already barely stretches from payday to payday are less likely to have children, or if they do, much fewer children then their parents did. So the number of new recruits to the labor force quickly begins to diminish.

As the older generation retires, not only do they start to drain the social services that were intended to be replenished by their children and grandchildren, but they now have need of expensive long term care or medical intervention and their offspring, who have been struggling to start their own lives and families, are either forced to move back in with their parents or reduce the number of hours they work to become part or full time caretakers.

All of these factors, along with costly corruption on Wall Street, higher taxes, the increasing cost of food and fuel among other things is causing previous world powers and economic leaders like the U.S. and Europe to spiral down into debtor states, as a new paradigm rises out of the shadows and dominates the future. 

 

 

 

 

 

What's Happening in the U.S. and other developed nations?

As I write, the United States and indeed the world is experiencing a financial crisis of unprecedented proportions. It is of course a complex problem, so much so, that even the experts disagree as to how to promote growth, while maintaining stability. It does seem odd that an entity created by humanity can lurch so far out of our control but there are factors beyond mere mathematics at issue here; factors that we cannot easily manage. 

First, the population in developed countries is getting older. The average age of the American worker has climbed in the last 20 years by 4 years to almost 42. That may not sound like a problem, but that trend is the same one that now sees individuals reaching the traditional retirement age of 65 as 13% of the population, compared to only 4 percent in 1900. And this shift promises to continue unabated for some time, as a tidal wave of individuals from the "Baby Boomer" generation start reaching their golden years and for a variety of reasons, their children are choosing to have fewer offspring to recharge the pool of labor. This literally means that a smaller and smaller work force is paying into a system that is supporting an expanding group of retirees. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out this is not a sustainable scenario. There is speculation that by the time today's average worker reaches retirement age, the system he will have been paying into all of his working life may be out of money. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion and there is very little we can do to avert disaster. Concurrently, older folks consume more medical goods and services than their younger counterparts and that is putting a strain on the entire medical industry, from doctors and nurses to medical suppliers, as well as government and private insurance purveyors. Increasing levels of antipathy and stonewalling in government have only made the problem worse. 

Secondly, emigration from poorer countries or those where poverty and or terrorist activities are threatening peoples lives has forced richer nations to deal with a huge influx of vulnerable individuals in need of, jobs, medical care, child services, transportation and a place to live. This has placed an additional strain on already teetering economies as they debate whether to absorb the diaspora or force them to return to their countries of origin. But data show that people and families facing poverty and or violence where they live, will do whatever is necessary to survive, returning again and again to safer neighboring lands where they may eventually find the security and opportunity being denied them at home. The interesting flip side of this phenomenon is that it is happening just as work forces in developed countries are shrinking, due to aging populations. So though new immigrants create an initial load on industrial nations, the eager and capable workers may prove to be a salvo for the intractable problem of long term attrition. 

A third major reason that many economies around the world are collapsing is corruption. Huge multi-national corporations carry so much weight and influence, they behave more like roving governments than companies, watering down regulation and enforcement through bribes and lobbying so that they can continue raking in huge profits at the expense of domestic populations. Oil companies pollute pristine ecosystems as well as established towns and neighborhoods all over the world, making children sick and displacing residents; pharmaceutical firms promote medicines that cause life threatening side effects; food producers make and distribute packaged items with lots of sugar and salt but otherwise empty calories, that are responsible for a dramatic rise in diabetes in the U.S.; banks rake in loads of revenue by selling bad loans and then profiting a second time by unloading the foreclosed properties after the owners are forced to default; companies across the world respond to their shrinking bottom lines by forcing employees to work harder and for longer hours while keeping wages stagnant or even withdrawing benefits; digital media carriers prey on the weaker aspects of the human psyche, causing an entire generation to become addicted to devices, apps, social media and staying connected 24/7, while continually raising rates and requiring the perpetual purchase of new gadgets and software updates to maintain their addiction. 

Finally, it appears that the world's cultures, classes and belief systems are drifting apart philosophically like tectonic plates. As has been mentioned so frequently in the news of late, the gap between rich and poor is widening and the middle class, which actually drives the economy is approaching burnout and loosing economic power while working harder than ever. The idealogical and military wars being waged around the world now makes the cold war of the past seem like the good old days. Extremest views are clashing with Western values, religious and ethnic prejudice is at an all time high and costly conflicts are draining economies as well as wiping out entire generations of young men and women that will never buy homes, start families or contribute to society. Senseless tragedies occur daily that keep the world in turmoil with inhumane actions begetting revenge, upon revenge and no one person, institution, government or miracle seems capable of containing the devastation. 

What's happening on the local level 

I have noticed in my own community (and I am sure the same is true for the rest of the country), that people are not buying as they once did. This last Christmas, in spite of the cheery numbers that were rolled out for sales, the stores were almost empty: people were staying away in droves. At my local swap meet even, many spaces stand empty, vacated by vendors of all sorts, due to a lack of interest on the part of visitors. Families and individuals are still stopping by for a stroll and some street food, but leaving with nothing in their hands. A sign that shopping has become more of a spectator sport that doesn't necessarily involve any financial transactions. Therefore, this is definitely not the time to start a retail business. And unfortunately beautiful artwork such as ceramics, jewelry and paintings are not fetching buyers. So if you do create items for sale, try online marketing or selling from home, where the overhead is far less. 

Where opportunities still exist 

If you are entrepreneurial and seeking an arena to ply your talents, one axiom still applies: follow the trends. As the population ages, the need for services that cater to seniors is becoming a hot market. In home care, gardening, light repair, local transportation, food delivery and travel that caters to older adults are all excellent places to research business prospects. Continuing in that category: many medical specialties now offer great opportunities, such as patient advocate, physical therapist, nutritionist/dietitian. pharmacist, medical transport, medical interpreter and the list goes on.

 

 

Another trend that shows no sign of slowing is the growth of immigrant populations. Helping immigrants with securing documents, finding work and housing, language instruction and computer training are all areas with a potential. However, because immigrants have few resources initially to spend on services, many of these activities are provided by volunteers. But schools and training organizations do hire personnel to assist with immigrant services, so do your research and see what possibilities exist.

My point is, opportunities are still present, but you have to be more imaginative, flexible and wiling to try different things. Because there are so many looking for work, intangible factors such as dress, being well-spoken, optimistic, creative and having good interpersonal skills often help Human Resource personnel decide between scores of well qualified candidates. When push comes to shove, being attractive and likable will still give you an edge over the competition. 

 

- S.E. Mathias

How Simply Changing Your Routine Leads to Happiness

Each of us has so many responsibilities, that we quickly adapt patterns to make the completion of our tasks automatic and more efficient. But this can lead to monotony and boredom. 

Take time, at least once a week to engage in an activity that is just for you. Something that has no goal attached to it other than to improve the quality and enjoyment of your life. That is Living Creatively! 

Then work up to bigger challenges. Save time and resources for a weekend road trip. Visit an old friend who now lives across town or across the country. Learn to dance, join a hiking group, host a party. 

There are a thousand and one ways you can be creative and bring fresh inspiration into your life. 

Instead of projecting your mind to some illusory time or place when and where you'll finally be happy, make it happen now.

Make today as good as it can be and plan to create even more goodness tomorrow, next week or next month. 

Happiness doesn't just happen, you have to create it. Therefore.....

Creativity = Happiness

Start today! 

-S.E. Mathias

 

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Happiness Depends on Basing Your Life on the Truth

Freedom is more than just the absence of physical bondage, it is also freedom of thought and the freedom to seek the truth and base one's life on facts, rather than lies and deception. Deception should be considered an eighth "Deadly Sin", for it's profound and cruel power to negatively alter the lives of those victimized by it. Individuals rarely deceive to protect others, they do so to protect or enable themselves at the expense of others. It is a purely selfish act that unfortunately is a fatal flaw present in the human psyche.

 

 

 

 

Like many such unpleasant realities of humanity, the origins of deception probably arose from a strategy for survival: in this case, the need to trick one's adversaries or constituents; to gain an advantage regarding the possession of property, the acquisition of resources or political control.

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527 AD), in his famous treatise on human nature "The Prince", postulated that being virtuous only sets one up to be victimized by the majority of the populace which lacks virtue. Instead, he said it is necessary to deceive the public in order to maintain control over their minds and actions. To be fair, Machiavelli arrived at his views during a period in Italian history when social unrest, corruption and disorganization threatened to tear apart his nation. He saw that a successful leader would need to be secular and able to control others without the constraints of a moral compass. For since most individuals in society acted in their own self interest, without regard for the health of the state, a successful Prince would need to preempt their counter-productive ignorance by any means necessary. He viewed deception as an important weapon in the prince's arsenal which he should use liberally and at will to achieve a desired outcome. One that would serve the greater good. 

Most of us have come to understand that we cannot trust politicians or governments, as the seduction of political power to eventually corrupt one's character seems inevitable. But within the context of our own associates, family, friends and lovers, we have a need, an expectation and indeed a right to be told the truth and dealt with fairly. This reciprocal trust is a necessary foundation for the building and maintenance of these relationships and when that trust is breached or used against us, it is particularly hurtful and destructive. Sadly, I have found few people are worthy of such faith and all too often one needs to be constantly vigilant to the possibility that their own best interests are not being served by those closest to them. But be forewarned, it is easy for such vigilance to morph into paranoia, fear and jealousy. Having to constantly monitor and intuit others' activities and thoughts is exhausting, unhealthy and is in and of itself an enemy of mutual trust. That is why it is essential to carefully select one's 'inner circle'. 

My father (rest his soul), reminded me from time to time that "it is better to be alone than to be badly accompanied". This truism has shaped my life as I have had to learn the hard way that attractiveness and charisma often place a veil of deception between ourselves and those we seek as companions.

From the time we are children, the qualities with the greatest power to influence our preferences are sight, sound and scent. We are instinctively drawn to facial symmetry, clear skin, bright eyes, a melodious voice, a pleasant fragrance and healthy hair, among other things. We rely on the presence of these attractive features to inform us about the trustworthiness and integrity of another person, but honestly, these factors actually tell us very little about a person's character. Rather, these are Nature's subtle tricks, the outward signs of a pervasive 'animal magnetism' that drives procreation. So effective are these forces on our psyche, that they override our logic and reason and compel us to share our hearts, minds and bodies with people who may be completely wrong for us. Very early on, individuals endowed with these random qualities of attraction learn they are special. They witness how disarming their presence is and are seduced by it's power to gain an advantage over others. Because they learn that a mere glance, a touch or a soothing word can get others to satisfy their needs, they are not as compelled to develop the deep, interpersonal and reciprocal skills that long, healthy relationships are built on. 

So what can we use as a rubric to determine the suitability of another person as a friend, associate, mentor or lover? Observation. Watch how they react to various situations. Are their responses well measured to the circumstances? Are they quick to anger; unwilling to confront conflict head on; cool under pressure; restrained in their volatility or more likely to provoke others? When you're having a bad day, are they understanding and compassionate or more often redirect the attention to themselves? Are they generous with their time and resources or all too often realize they forgot their money at home when it comes time to pay at a restaurant or theatre? This and many other character elements are available for scrutiny, if you will only take off your blinders and be discerning.

At some point, if one's conduct is satisfactory, you'll have to extend trust and allow them more access to your life. But this is still not time to give away the farm. Russians are very fond of proverbs to describe the human condition and one that the American public became aware of through Pres. Ronald Reagan was "trust, but verify" This highlights the fact that we cannot completely know another person. We cannot always predict what they might do at some future point. People are able to hide their true nature for long periods or some factor may cause them to change their character for better or worse. So we need to trust, for the integrity of the relationship, but still be vigilant. This is a very narrow tightrope to walk, but one of the essential components of self-preservation. If Freedom is not Free, than neither is the Truth. The price of knowing the truth is to always be willing to have your notions of reality overturned. The truth is not constant, indeed it shifts incrementally every day. These shifts may be insignificant, either positive or negative or they may result in our having to reevaluate and remake our lives according to new and disquieting revelations. But whether the truth of your life brings you joy or sadness, your overall life satisfaction relies on you keeping the roots of your Happiness Tree, firmly planted in reality. For basing your life on lies and deception leads only to despair, self-loathing and disaster. The Truth is always your friend. Keep it by your side at all times and the likelihood of your navigating life's challenges successfully will be greatly enhanced.

-S.E. Mathias

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Finding Your Purpose - The Essential Power of Solitude

 It may seem counter-intuitive, but of all the relationships in our lives, often, the one we understand the least is the one with ourselves. And because this is always our most important, primary connection, the degree to which our internal lives remain a mystery to us, determines the quality of our emotional health and how well our entire lives function. All too frequently, it is the poor quality of this primary relationship that compels us to distract ourselves with pointless social activities and electronic gadgets, further driving a wedge between our inner and outer lives. 

You see, unlike our friends, family and coworkers, our inner self doesn't communicate to us through the spoken word, but rather through feelings. As those feelings continue to be ignored, their unsettling nature and intensity grows, perhaps in an effort to receive our attention. But it is precisely that discomfort we run from and as a result, the problem grows exponentially. This reluctance or inability to tap into our inner life, wisdom and truth cleaves us from our identity, our convictions, our passions and creative expression.

 

Those who allow this dysfunctional relationship to fester for years or even decades may age, but never truly mature. For maturation is a process of consolidation, of bringing together the thoroughly digested lessons of our experiences and the disparate parts of ourselves into a unified whole. And this cannot happen without a deep connection to our inner life. So how is this accomplished? Through Solitude.

To co-opt a term from the digital world, solitude allows us to "download" the raw images, feelings and thoughts from our complex external lives and process them into usable data, creating and updating a matrix through which we become increasingly efficient at extracting lessons and knowledge, that eventually season into wisdom.

For most of us, from the moment we awaken, until we return to sleep, our lives are filled with activity. The health of our social spheres and indeed our very survival depend on us being present and intentionally aware during these activities. But that intense focus and busyness must also be punctuated by intervals of silence and solitude. Otherwise, our mind never gets an opportunity process the challenges, interactions or feelings we encountered-to digest them into kernels of understating and wisdom, that add up to personal growth.

It would be like eating, for the shear pleasure of taste, but then having the food pass through us undigested, gaining nothing from the nutrients locked within. While your digestive system can function just fine on the run, your mind cannot. It needs rest and time to update it's circuits. And this can only be accomplished during periods of solitude. 

What is Solitude? You might imagine it to be self evident that solitude is just another way of expressing a state of aloneness, but that is an incomplete definition. Being alone or lonely are considered undesirable conditions. characterized by isolation, perhaps by virtue of geography, or an emotional state that makes social interaction discomforting.

But Solitude is a quality of intentional separation from others. It is a time when we can drop pretenses, when we can take off our masks and truly be ourselves.

 

 

 

 

As the brilliant philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer posited that:

"A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; ... if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free". 

History's spiritual leaders passionately sought out just such a freedom, to come in greater connection with their own inner spirit: Mohammed had the habit of meditating alone for several weeks every year and received his first revelation in 610, on the mountain of Hira outside Mecca;

After his baptism Jesus is said to have spent 40 days and nights alone in the desert.

Buddha spent extended periods alone in the forests. He is recorded as having said 'I wish to go into solitude for half a month. No one is to come to see me except the one who brings my food'. The Buddha went on to say that solitude may be sought out for a variety of reasons, some good, others, less so. Evildoers and those who are mentally unstable may seek to be alone for unhealthy reasons. Additionally, seeking to separate one's self from society can be a way to shirk responsibility.

But solitude, especially when coupled with an abstinence from all forms of sensory stimulation, can refresh the mind, put one more in touch with inner truths and increase self reliance. 

 

S.E. Mathias 

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Creativity - Another Article in the Series - "Finding and Living Your Purpose"

What is creativity? It is the process of turning new, imaginative ideas into reality. It is characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways and make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena. It involves two distinct processes: thinking and then producing.

 

It is an activity that requires passion and energy, because very often one needs to attempt different methods of reaching their goal, in essence to have the resilience to try and fail, maybe many times until success is realized. 

Are you creative? Is the creative ability only randomly endowed to certain "special" people, or can anyone be creative? David Kelly, the founder of the design firm IDEO and a professor at Stanford University has observed that "people opt out of creativity after adulthood". "They stop thinking of themselves as creative". He believes that there is no such thing as "the creative type". That anyone can learn to be creative and they do so by being guided to attempt small challenges and building greater and greater confidence through their successes.

Citing the work of Professor, Albert Bandura in a process called "Guided Mastery, he recalls that subjects are introduced to something that induces fear, such as a snake and that this fear can be lessened in small steps that may involve watching the snake, approaching it, then touching it with a glove and so on. Eventually, such a degree of comfort is attained that the subject can hold the snake in their lap. Once the fear of the snake dissipates, the subject is able to appreciate the beauty of the animal's pattern and form. 

Creativity also induces a fear similar to the phobia people may have regarding snakes, spiders or heights. This fear usually results from childhood experiences during which creative endeavors may have been attempted and subsequently criticized by a peer or worse, by a parent or teacher. The pain of this criticism then becomes internalized and forms a fear of failure or ridicule. A fear that can last a lifetime. However, even as an adult, when one is given the tools to express themselves and that expression receives positive feedback, this fear of failure begins to break down and a new creative energy is revealed. From that point forward, a person may begin to think of themselves as a creative individual and once that boundary is crossed, it often releases an inspirational flow that can be life-evolving! 

Few of us however have access to a Guided Mastery program such as the one described above. It would be wonderful if Creativity 101 were taught in our schools from an early age. Imagine how many people who over the years have left the educational system, creatively blocked. If such a program were available throughout the educational experience. So many who now, don't think of themselves as creative, might have been able to access novel channels of expression and gone on to become artists, musicians, engineers and writers. But you don't need to wait for someone to guide you in this "baby-step" process of becoming acquainted with your creative side: you can be your own guide. Sure, it may be messy and feel uncomfortable at first, but with time and resilience, new confidences will build and new milestones will be reached. I can attest to this personally, having once immersed myself in a painting frenzy over several days as a form of therapy, during a difficult period. What resulted was my rather sudden awareness of a latent talent which has since provided me many hours of enjoyment and pride. 

Yes, art and fear are too often linked as fear is almost always associated with something new and different. This fear can cause us to avoid creative thinking or to worry that our creative powers will just one day evaporate. But this doesn't have to be your fate. You CAN and should be creative, in all areas of your life and just know, that some days will be better than others and that's okay.

How would you make something like this lion image? There are many ways to go about it, many of which don't require you to have any skill in drawing. I have created many beautiful works of art with plant and animal scenes and I stink at drawing. Search Creativity on You Tube for lots of ideas on creating abstract art, using a variety of novel media and techniques. You'll be amazed at what you can do!

Set small goals for yourself and don't be discouraged if they don't turn out perfect the first or even the fifth time. Do the work and the inspiration will come. And once it does, you'll find yourself thinking creatively in novel areas of your life. In your relationships, your career and even the way you live. Creativity is, (with a few notable exceptions), a uniquely human trait. Embrace it and use it to your advantage. Trust me, it will bring new opportunities and joy beyond your wildest dreams, if you just hang in there and apply yourself.

S.E. Mathias

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