Increasing Daily Consciousness

The truth is…

Anyone’s guess, or whatever you happen to absorb in any given moment. Finding the truth in any situation has never been an easy task. And anyway, one person’s truth is not necessarily the same for someone else.

That said, there must be some absolute truths we can hang our hat on. I was reminded of how difficult it is to “find the truth” in daily life by a conversation I recently had with some people.

The topic started out on some current events, with one person voicing her opinion on the state of the economy. She recounted some news stories she had watched on television that showed how certain factories were closing and that joblessness was up.

She also pointed out that many people were in danger of losing their homes because “foreclosures were up too.” I don’t deny that she was probably accurate in her recounting those particular news stories, since those messages have been beamed at us quite frequently in recent months. But I’m not sure how I should respond when I hear this message again and again.

Here’s how I did respond: I pointed out that while certain jobs are being invariably lost to other countries, particularly manufacturing, the overall jobless rate has been much higher than it is now. She seemed surprised by that fact, and another person with us chimed in: But the actual numbers of jobless are greater now because there are more people in the country!

Quite an amazing response to what I said. Interesting to observe the stake that so many people have in believing and holding on to the messages they receive from the media.

The “foreclosure message” is an interesting one too. I recently read three different articles about the same South Florida real estate market: One article suggested that it was never a better time to buy because prices and interest rates were favorable, a second article cautioned buyers that if they thought that they could buy properties at fifty (50) cents on the dollar, they were sadly mistaken, a third article reported on a specific bank auction of properties that were unsold for at least three months in which the purchase price, subject to probable bank approval, was about thirty-five (35%)per cent of the properties’ 2005 market value.

So what are the actual facts? As mentioned above, it could be as simple as chance: what is your source of information and how much value do you give to it?

I heard another interesting comment on the radio just yesterday. Two talk show hosts were chatting about a female Harry Potter star who earned multiple millions by the age of eighteen. The overall sentiment of these hosts was that this young girl was “set for life” as a result of the money she made. I thought to myself: If it was only that simple…

Amazing how people think that their happiness is solely linked to finances. This comment may come as a shock to some of you reading this blog to improve your finances, but it shouldn’t: There are certain things that are facilitated by having money, and I am all in favor of people enjoying those things to the max.

That said, a fulfilling life requires a balance of many factors, and this blog is going to address some of those other factors too.

Given all the information out there, one thing is clear to me: There has never been a better time than now to spend money for the things you want and need. I know there are lots to absorb these days, and I hope I am adding to the clarity rather than the overload.

Have fun and enjoy yourselves.