Do You Know Someone Like This?

From the first day I met "Greg," I could tell that he was high strung.  Any little problem would put him  in a panic.  This was a challenge as he worked in the high pressure world of TV News. His soul seemed to burn with the stress of countless frustrations.

I knew that this was not a healthy lifestyle and several years later, I wasn't surprised to hear that all of the stress Greg carried inside had gotten the better of him.  While I no longer worked with him, friends at his station told me that he had a physical and mental breakdown.  He was alright but was taking some time off to work with doctors and therapists to get his life back together.

I was eager to find out more about Greg, Version 2.0.  His coworkers told me that he did seem more relaxed, which was great news.  But over time, they noticed another change in Greg. He had become incredibly annoying.

During his recovery time, Greg had learned a ton about coping mechanisms and information about human behavior.  But rather than follow the advice, Greg took to telling other people what was wrong with them.  The advice was unsolicited and nonstop.  He had gone from someone who internalized stress to someone who gave stress to others.  Greg had twisted good ideas into a mental wrecking ball.

Every day we are presented with a good deal of information and sometimes it has been distorted to fit someone's agenda.  Don't be afraid to ask questions, check facts, and consider the source.

Overwhelmed By Change? Watch an Old Movie.

Movies are great things to study because they not only tell us a story but also tell us about the values, dreams, and shortcomings of the time when they were made.

Check out a film from 20 years ago. Pay attention to the music, the fashion, and the pacing. Sometimes, you'll laugh as I do when I see people doing things like talking on enormous cell phones. You may also interpret the film differently because you're watching it at a different point in you life. Suddenly, you may have new insight into a character's motivations.

The goal is to realize that not that long ago, things were much different. But since we experience life in a day to day fashion, we don't notice these changes and shifts in our lives. People are actually quite flexible in how they can change and deal with new challenges. To paraphrase the popular ad: "We've come a long way, baby."

The global economic slowdown has produced a ton of unexpected changes and and challenges. Remember that you are not new to living with the unknown. You've probably experienced more of it than you think.