Much opportunity to be found in crisis

Kathrine Moser
Staff Writer
Today’s unpredictable stock market, high unemployment rates, rising gas prices and escalating foreclosures can make one feel more emotional than rational.

A couple months ago I was talking to my friend about predictions Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Actor/Filmmaker/Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein made when discussing the economy.

They predicted if things did not improve, we would soon be heading for a depression. One of my friends, who is not typically pessimistic, had this to say: “We are in times that we have not been in before. Therefore, it is impossible to predict what is going to happen.”

At first, I did not understand his optimistic philosophy. After all, Mayor Daley is the mayor of Chicago, and he has knowledge about the results of the kind of fallout we are facing.

My friend then explained to me everyone in life has the same opportunity as the next person to make money. Sure these are brave, heroic words to utter, but do they really hold true? In the following days, I gave our conversation much thought.

Then one day it hit me, and I understood what he meant. As I recounted in my journal, the Chinese word for crisis is opportunity.

Successful people are successful because they look for opportunities in times of crisis. Instead of feeling self pity, they take action. They look for ways to improve the situation. They take a rational approach instead of an emotional one.

Currently we are all in uncertain and perilous times. There is no telling when things are going to get better, or what it will take to turn things around. Keeping a positive attitude can help. If we steer clear of being emotional, we will be less stressed out, and this can result in fewer health problems.

By remaining rational and finishing our (albeit expensive) educations instead of dropping out of school, we can retain our opportunities to get better jobs when this economic crisis is over.

Not everything happening in these hard times is negative. We all hear about the big box companies (such as Circuit City) going out of business; this could be an opportunity for new, stronger businesses to open. Families have been in despair, but with this economic crisis, there has been a chance to bring the family unit together again.

In the past, the economy has always had its ups and downs. If we remember to keep a vigilant attitude by being rational instead of emotional, it will make us stronger in the process and get us through these hard times.