The illusion of security
Normally most of us live each day with the illusion of security: We go to work, and assume we will have a job. We get up, and assume we will have our health. We drive to work, and assume our car will run. And the list goes on…
In trying times, that illusion is often shattered.
We wonder if we’ll have a job tomorrow. We wonder if we’ll be able to qualify for health insurance. We wonder what will happen if things don’t work out the way we’d previously assumed they would.
But what’s really different? For the most part, nothing — except the way we see things.
Of course, that’s what an illusion is: seeing things differently than the way they really are.
In some cases, it’s better to be without the illusion, because being without the illusion forces you to think about those what-ifs. And being thoughtful ahead of time and preparing is much better than being oblivious and shocked when something negative unexpectedly happens.
Of course, spending all of our time worried and obsessed about something that may never happen isn’t good either.
The trick is to find a happy medium, one where we acknowledge that bad things could happen, and avoid doing things that would actively make those bad things worse if they did happen, while still living life with the knowledge that great things happen too.
And when we prepare for emergencies, and they don’t happen, it makes our ability to take advantage of the great things that much stronger.
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May 6th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Agree, having the illusion is better for one’s mental health. Because the reality is unless you work for yourself, tomorrow could be the last day you work, you have no idea. So keep a positive outlook, work hard, and always keep an eye out for things.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I think that many people prefer not to look behind the curtain, for fear of what they may find. They put little thought into preparing for bad things, and are surprised when they run into “bad luck”. I believe that you make your own luck by living thoughtfully. Nice post.