Every day we are bombarded by news stories about how unhappy Americans are. We're told that even though we are wealthier now then ever, we're more unhappy than ever. Don't fall for this old media trick.
Newspapers and magazines sell bad news. That's their business. They need to scare people into buying their product. The old media has to keep people in a state of fear in order to continue to sell their product.
It's no wonder the new media, especially websites and blogs, is quickly replacing the old media. People are tired of living in fear.
Here is an example from the Washington Post. Americans were asked the question: "Taken all together, how would you say things are these days — would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy or not too happy?" The results are supposed to indicate that Americans are less happy then they were in 1970.
Why Are Americans So Unhappy?
Could it be that we watch way more TV than in 1970? According to the Economist American households watch an average of over 8 hours of television a day!
What didn't we have in 1970? Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, Bloomberg and the rest of the garbage that passes for news. There isn't enough news to fill 24 hours of broadcasting. Every small story becomes a national headline. Every disaster is a national disaster. Every murder is reported. Every down tick in the economic figures (whose reliability is questionable) is reported as if the next Great Depression is around the corner.
The constant drumbeat of doom is on 8 hours every day in American households. Is it any wonder Americans aren't happy.
Americans are fatter then they've ever been. The portions at restaurants are gigantic, providing the calories one person needs for a whole day, not just a meal.
Americans are sitting around in their homes, getting fat and watching bad news on TV. How can Americans be happy when they live like livestock?
I'm OK But I Worry About My Neighbor
Most people when surveyed about their financial condition respond that they are fine. However, they think their neighbor is in real trouble.
Why do they think that? Because the news keeps reporting it. Every government scandal, increase in oil price, and foreign crisis is cause for alarm. Stop worrying, pour some cold water on your head and come to your senses.
What Can You Do?
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Turn Off the TV
Try an experiment. Avoid all television for one week. At the end of the week, record how you feel. Do you feel better or worse than before? I'd bet over 90% will feel better. If you feel better why not see how long you can go without watching TV?
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Go on a "News Diet"
Avoid all news for one week. I guarantee you'll feel better. Are you a news addict? Then you really need a news diet.
Nothing on the news will affect you one way or another. I don't watch the news I get my information online. It's more reliable and you can find exactly what you want.
If you watch the news for the weather, try weather.com instead.
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Exercise
Go for a walk every night with your family. You'll be closer to your family and you'll get the news that's really import. Walking is free. If you can stick with walking for a few weeks consider joining a gym.
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Eat Less
Don't diet, eat less. Eating less will save you money and make you look better and feel better in the long run. How can you be happy if you feel bad about your appearance?
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Don't Worry about the Economy
For 90% of the people invested in the stock market, the day to day fluctuations don't matter. If you not going to retire tomorrow, it doesn't matter what your stocks are worth. Stock price only matters when you buy and sell.
If you want to sell every time the market goes down, stocks aren't the right investment for you.
Why do you care what mortgage rates are or how much your house is worth? Unless you're trying to sell right now it just does not matter to most people.
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Comments
1 Comment so far
Nice points in your "Don't Worry about the Economy" section, but I would add one caveat. If you work in an industry that could be negatively affected by an economic downturn, i.e., you have a chance of being laid-off or your personal business may suffer, then I recommend that you proactively insulate yourself from the potential downside. Spend less, save more, diversify your revenue streams, etc. In other words, build yourself up a cushion so you don't have to worry (as much) about swings in the economy.