Everyday we are swamped with bad news. The deluge of unwanted news arrives in the form of bank failures, old established financial firms biting the dust, stock markets plunging, precipitous drops in consumer spending, unemployment soaring, etc. etc. etc. And to make matters worse some of the news hits home—affecting our personal and financial well-being. Is it any wonder that despair is no longer just creeping in—but blindsiding us. What are we to do?

A Dependency on the Impossible

Sadly, many people are depending on others to take care of them. In their despair, they abandon any self-responsibility and self-initiative they may have once possessed. Since some of the”others” they were hoping to depend are in the same boat—they turn hopeful eyes to that old “generous” uncle of last resort to bail them out—Uncle Sam. In fact Uncle Sam has become the rescuer of first and last resort.

Believing the government can save you is the desperation of the wild-eyed, panic-stricken savage caught in a trap he can neither see nor understand. Our great country, a country founded and populated by a hearty, freedom loving, farsighted people has been reduced to depending on a government, a government so large and monstrous, that it is imploding under its own weight—destroying the lives of many as it collapses.

Government has no wealth of its own. If you actually believe our government can save you—then you obviously think you can have your cake and eat it too. Where do you think our beloved politicians and government financial leaders are “finding” the lifeboats to save its citizens? It steals them from the very citizens it’s claiming to help. Now that’s what I call a cruel, sadistic joke! If it wasn’t so tragic I might crack a knowing smile. Shedding tears of shame and sadness for what our once great nation has devolved into is more appropriate.

Now you might be thinking that we are all “freaking doomed.” It certainly appears that way. And if you believe that the disastrous course our government has embarked on is unstoppable you are probably right. History proves that governments never voluntarily halt its liberty violating, economy destroying ways. Politicians never relinquish the power they have acquired. Sure economies are destroyed and empires collapse—but it always happens sometime in the future. With control of the printing presses and the legislature they believe they can postpone the inevitable indefinitely. Well, I have news for them. Indefinitely is accelerating towards us—ready to flatten all in its path.

The Living Dead

If you are depending on others or even worse the government to take care of your needs and desires then there is no hope for the future. If you have made up your mind to become self-reliant and practice rational selfishness, you are in the process of capturing hope and transforming your dreams and desires into reality.

A person without dreams and desires is a person who is among the living dead. He or she appears to be alive—but in reality is meekly awaiting the day of departure from this planet.

A person—who has dreams and desires but with little hope of ever accomplishing them—is a person rubbing elbows and knees with the living dead. Eventually any hope they once possessed vanishes, as smoke from a “coffin nail” dissolves into nothingness.

Keeping the Flame of Hope Burning Bright

Really, there is no reason to give up in a fit of despair. Heck, you might as well be dead if you don’t possess and use the life-giving force known as positive action. Here is an affirmation you can repeat whenever the urge to give up attempts to overwhelm you.

“I persist until I succeed. I accomplish my goals and desires.”

Maybe it has crossed your mind that you can eliminate despair by indulging in certain activities such as drug use, excessive drinking, dangerous behavior, brainless television viewing, etc. You rationalize that you might as well “party” your way through life—since it is all falling apart anyway.

I certainly understand the appeal of this method of handling life’s miseries. You cover up your pain and misery—and experience some “fun” along the way. You think that maybe your despair will retreat to the background. I have some news for you—anything repressed always arises and rears its ugly head—causing you more misery. Just face the truth—irrational selfishness never obtains the desired results—and never will.

The rationally selfishness individual weighs the short-term, intermediate and long-term consequences of his actions. And guess what? He enjoys many of the pleasures life has to offer because he is healthy in body, mind and spirit. His existence is his highest value. Since this type of individual celebrates the joy of their existence on a daily basis—he or she would never pollute it with irrationally selfish behavior.

The rationally selfish individual feeds the “flame of hope” with positive thoughts and positive actions—transforming it into a brilliant beacon that inspires all who are receptive to its hot, white flame.

Conclusion – A Plan of Action

Following are some activities that guarantee that you keep your flame of hope burning bright forevermore. I’ve mentioned them before, but they are worth repeating.

1.Adopt a daily practice of meditation. I meditate at least one hour per day. I have reaped many marvelous benefits from this practice. I recommend that you meditate at least 24 minutes a day. This is one minute for each hour of the day.

2.Exercise on a daily basis. Exercise guarantees that your body and mind become more efficient and energetic. Plus you eliminate the sluggishness that hampers your ability to take purposive action on your dreams and desires.

3.Indulge in continuous learning. Just as your body needs fuel to operate efficiently—your brain needs the food of new knowledge and information. The world is changing at a rapid rate. Change is one of the a priori categories of human action. If you aren’t utilizing change for your benefit—change can become an enemy that constantly challenges your comfort zone—and eventually evicts you from it. Wouldn’t it be much easier to voluntarily move out of your uninspiring comfort zone?

You still might be thinking “Yeah, but life is so hard. I don’t know if anything that I can do will make my life any better. Maybe I’ll just coast through life.”

Drifting along aimlessly can only bring you more misery and despair. You’re current situation might seem bleak. You wonder if you have any energy available to overcome life’s unbidden problems. I have some great news for you. You currently possess the seeds of happiness and success. They may be hidden—but if you search for them, you will find them. Let me finish this article with two quotes—one from Napoleon Hill and the other from the Bible.

“Adversity has within it the seeds of an equivalent or greater benefit.” “Seek and you shall find.”