Ayn Rand’s novel “Atlas Shrugged” was required reading back in the day when I went to high school.

It described a world where nothing worked anymore. Nobody cared, nobody was held responsible…

50 years after the book was first published (1958) I’m astonished to see how accurate her prophecy was: On time air travel is now the exception not the norm. Companies make it so difficult and expensive to get warranty repairs you give up and throw the item away. Nobody can count on their retirement anymore. The dollar keeps shrinking against world currencies (some 30+% in the last 3-4 years!) Oil topped $100 a barrel last week and we’re still driving cars with engines designed when gas was only 99 cents a gallon... And the sub prime mortgage fiasco which affects as many as 1 out of 7 mortgages in the United States continues to run its’ course!

Hey I didn’t mention global warming, the coming ice age and the new world order, did I?

You know what? Turn the radio and TV off for three days! Guess what you’ll find three days later? Nothing has changed!

So what does this reality check mean to you? It is important to create a controlled access from the “outside world” into your personal world. Stop letting the sensationalism and negative prognostications affect your ability to hope for and take action for a better future!

I’ll never forget the advice my Father gave me when I was around 5 or 6 years old:

“Your mind and your home is sacred! Be careful what you allow from the outside world into these sacred places. If you are not careful you will end up not having anyplace you will feel safe”…

It wasn’t until I was an adult that his admonishment made sense. You must be vigilant against thoughts and emotions that will dampen your spirits and rob you of your dreams. This applies not only to the media but to every aspect of your life. If you are contemplating embarking upon any activity which will result in changing your life in any way (IE: Following your dreams) you must be very careful about who you share your dreams with!

We already have a constant barrage of hopelessness coming at us everyday. You don’t need to also hear it from those you thought you could trust.

Keep your dreams close to your heart and let the result of your actions spread the news of your aspirations and accomplishments!

Taking personal responsibility for your life and your future is, unfortunately, not the norm in our present society. You are going to have to rely on your inner strength and resolve to create the personal momentum necessary to alter your reality.

Don’t worry! You will soon rise to the top the way cream does in milk. People who recognize you because they also recognize themselves (in you) will make their presence known to you. Reach out to these people and you will always find the support and encouragement you need.

When you get it, don’t forget to “pay it forward” by being supportive and encouraging to others as well. Maybe if we get a few people doing this we can turn that “outer reality” in a more positive direction.

A small bulb throws a lot of light in the dead of night.

-Bob Baran