When Will it End
December2009

The recession is officially over according to the economists.  Feel better now?  Not if you want to know when it will really end...for you.

If you hear yourself saying things like, "I can't wait until we start the New Year with a fresh start," or "I'm looking forward to 2010 after such a tough year," or "I'm seeing small signs of improvement so my optimism is growing," you are not really ready to have it end.

The financial constriction is only superficially about money.  Yes, the discussions about regulatory policy, bank accountability, Wall Street, and what the President should or should not do are all necessary.  But these conversations are insufficient.  And they are being had every day and all day.  While that is occurring, we need to find our own answers to, "When will it end?"

So, how about another kind of dialogue?  Leaders of small businesses need to dig into this downturn more intimately.  The real issue is our personal relationship to the constriction and who we are being when we get severely challenged.  You know the old adage, "It's not what happens to you that matters, it's what you think it means." 

Most of us have been tested this year, to be sure.  But hoping things on the outside get better next year is not the best way to pass your test.  It's certainly better to be optimistic than pessimistic, but looking forward takes us out of the present moment and inhibits our ability to identify the subtle fear or pessimism that is thwarting our inspired creativity and excellent action.  Waiting for the calendar to turn, or hoping for a break, is not an effective strategy.  You need to understand that your recovery is an inside job before you can discover when it will end.

When you stop and honestly look into your heart at what's really hurting, you begin solving the spiritual mystery that is your personal test.  If you realize you are heartbroken over not having been able to make the most of your contribution to the world, you will get inspired to expand your contribution.  If you follow through and take excellent action, you will begin to put an end to your test. 

If you think about it this way, the economic recovery will end for our society on millions of different days.  For some, the inspiration will be to become more assertive and stand for your value; for others, to be more grateful for the good times; or more patient with those who need your help; or more open to people trying to support you; or more decisive with those who are not contributing at the level they are being compensated. 

We assert that fear, sadness or frustration is at the core of each person's financial constriction and the real remedy for all of these feelings is love.  You will likely call it by a different name - better collaboration, principled leadership, a superior service ethic, a more powerful value proposition, or a hundred other business appropriate phrases. 

But for those reading this newsletter, the recovery begins in your heart and improved cash flow is not enough by itself to put an end to this test.  Learning your unique personal lesson and bringing yourself forward in a transformed way will put an end to your test.  And if you pass with flying colors you'll know it is over when these two things occur:

1.       You will feel powerfully enlivened with positive energy even before your personal economy shows signs of recovery.  You will feel genuine peace due to nothing more than your heart's insight.

2.       Then, your inspired excellent actions will eventually bring about meaningful accomplishments that lead to improved results.  If you stay with your inspiration, improved cash flow will happen in concert with your new internal reality!

The danger is not that the recovery will take too long.  The real danger is that you will not awaken to your test and pass it before the economy does get better in spite of you missing the lesson.  Don't let all of this time go by without engaging in some healthy soul searching.  Lots of people win the money game and lose what matters most.  We want you to win your money game AND discover deep satisfaction and harmony with all of life's challenges.  To be truly happy, you need to use these tough times as a stepping stone to expand your contribution in some mysterious way.  In solving this puzzle, you will become an illuminated leader who can find the wisdom to deal with your next round of challenges.

If you are open to a business journey that's supported by soul searching, we say, "Game on!"  Your heart is waiting for you to declare, "My recession is over."

If you know someone who would benefit from this article, please pass it along!