We’ve received some email from readers asking how we can all cope during these difficult times. To be perfectly honest, this isn’t an easy question to answer, mostly because the fear factor is so high---and what’s more, we’re each afraid of different things. Some people are affected by the recent economic downturn and are afraid of losing their jobs, or not finding new ones if they’re already unemployed. Others find themselves conflicted over the war with Iraq. Although distraught with empathy for the plight of the Iraqi civilians, many people fear another terrorist attack if we don’t fight Iraq, while others fear the possibility of another attack as a result of the fighting. Many of us are afraid for our service men and women who may die or be taken prisoner, and still others fear that we may not have the support we need for a quick resolution without the backing of the rest of the world.

In the presence of all this fear, it’s very hard to know what to do. But, as much as external conditions seem to dictate "the way things are," now more than ever, it’s time to put the fear aside and align ourselves with what we want. But how do we really do this in the face of, say a gloomy economy? If we want a new job, we need to be patient with ourselves and the world, and keep the faith. Life is always changing and things will get better. When we align ourselves with this idea, we become among the first to recognize opportunities as they arise because we’re already looking for them. In the mean time we have to be more inventive, flexible and adaptable than usual, and we might even have to make unpleasant lifestyle decisions that we’d rather avoid. This is not easy, and every now and then we all need a good rant to acknowledge the frustration. But no matter what our personal situation, we can keep things in perspective by staying focused on the present, continuing to participate fully in life, and allowing others to help us rebound.

And what can we align ourselves with in the face of war? If we want peace in Iraq and the rest of the world, we first have to know peace on a personal level. To us, this comes from fully accepting and feeling the interconnection of all life. Instead of focusing on fear, which by its very nature disconnects us from each other, consider what peace looks like and how it behaves. Peace accepts that not everyone wants peace. Peace acts in the moment, it doesn’t sit around worrying about the future. Sure, there’s always the possibility of a terrorist attack, but when we focus our individual and collective energies on peace we join forces with the creative power of the universe and can disarm the negative power of fear and violence. Peace is understanding and compassionate and actively seeks to embrace and comfort all beings, regardless of their beliefs. Peace is not a dirty word, and it is not unpatriotic. Peace does not come from knowing all the details on the nightly news, nor does it come from sticking our heads in the sand. Peace keeps moving forward because it knows that life is eternal. Peace is spiritual power and we are all spiritual beings. Peace is our true nature.

Peace, hope or prosperity are not things to aspire to---rather, we have the opportunity to invoke them each and every moment. On a deeply spiritual level, there’s nothing to fear but fear itself. In the midst of these very trying times, let’s all keep the faith and find the courage to create a better future with our thoughts, words and actions.