In last Saturday’s Wall Street Journal, Jason Zweig provides some great advice on dealing with fear and avoiding “trigger-happy “panic. The article on the front page of the Money & Investing section describes panic as a “wild, irresistible fear that spreads through crowds like an epidemic.” Of course, the emotion of fear is a consequence of thinking fear-rooted thoughts and the extreme emotion of panic is simply fear-intensified with negative energy, creating the “runaway train” dynamic that almost always makes things worse.
 

To be calm and poised, first think calm, faith-based thoughts. Remind yourself that God is in control, that this situation will soon pass, that there is an opportunity hiding in all of this. Every hour throughout the day, pause briefly and pray for wisdom, for discipline, for patience and for poise. Dwell on soothing words such as “Tranquility, Serenity, Peace, Relaxation, Harmony,  Faith, Gratitude.” Repeat them in your mind or whisper them aloud.
 

Better yet, remind yourself of everything you know to be true about God. “God is all-powerful. God is love. God is sovereign. God is always with us. God is absolute truth. God never changes.” And so on.
Thinking about God is good, really good! And the bigger you make God, the smaller your problems become.
The Wall Street Journal writer finishes his article with the advice that “You cannot brush panic away with willpower alone, but you can quarantine yourself from contagious settings.” Here are his four suggestions:
1.       Break the circle (of socializing with spooked investors)
2.       Turn off the tube
3.       Think Positive
4.       Stick to it (and set yourself a goal)
Click here to read the entire article.

Coach