I am feeling quite blessed today to be on Jon Gordon’s e-mail list. Jon has a bold message about positive energy that we all need more than ever. It sounds overly simple, this idea around setting aside our fears and walking in faith, but this isn’t about a Pollyanna attitude or an ostrich mentality. It’s about choosing the way we approach the world.

When do you make your best decisions? When you’re stressed and angry? When you’re worried or depressed? Or do you make your best decisions when you’re calm and forward-looking? When you’re excited about the future, instead of afraid? It’s not an easy thing to do, overcoming this massive mantle of fear and negativity that hangs over the world right now. But we can do it, if we feed ourselves positive energy, calming thoughts and a connection to our Higher Power (for those of us who spin that way).

This is an excerpt from Jon’s latest e-newsletter (which I hope you’ll sign up for, details are at the bottom of this post):

“We need to realize that the economy is not some abstract entity separate from us. The economy is us. YOU and I are the economy. Our thoughts, behaviors, actions and mood collectively create the economy. Government can try to manipulate our actions through tax plans, regulations, incentives, etc. but in a nutshell WE are the economy. Our collective mood, productivity, innovation, positive energy and execution determines whether the economy is thriving or in a recession. Paying our mortgage helps the economy. Working hard helps the economy. Starting a business helps the economy. Making a product the world needs helps the economy. Replacing our psychology of fear with a psychology of trust helps the economy.

But how can I trust anything, you might ask, when everything I’ve trusted in is falling apart. My answer is that we’ve put our trust and faith in the wrong things. Our government, media, financial institutions and our own actions have shown us that a house built on a foundation of greed cannot stand. The cracks have been exposed and it’s a wake up call to all of us. As Charles West said, “We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them.” Our foundations are shaking for a reason. We are meant to realize that security is an illusion. There’s no power in having a big bank account. You can’t find peace in your investment portfolio and you’ll never find your true purpose in your 401k plan.

We are meant to stop listening to the media, aka, Chicken Little and have faith in something bigger than ourselves. We are meant to trust in God, not in our balance sheets. We are meant to realize that true power exists not in what seems big and strong and secure but in what is silent and unseen. This is where faith lives.”

Jon Gordon is a speaker, consultant and author of several books including the recently released The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to deal with Negativity at Work and the international best seller The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy which has captured the hearts of readers world-wide. Jon’s proven solutions are being put to use by people and organizations worldwide and his tips have been featured on CNN, the NBC Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, and more.

Learn more and sign up for Jon’s free weekly Positive Tip newsletter at www.JonGordon.com

(Reprinted with Permission © Copyright 2008 The Jon Gordon Companies)