Choose one:

•Recessions

•High inflation

•Skyrocketing housing prices

•Falling housing prices

•Crypto-millionaires

•Turned Crypto-poor

•Rising rents

•Falling rents

I could go on, but do you get the point?

Any or all of these might make one person feel anxious and confused and another excited about the opportunities hidden within.

Back in 2008, the paper value of my condo went from $160k to $50k.

My first thought was:

“Oh man, what am I going to do now?  I’ll never make that money back." I was angry with myself for not seeing that crash coming. I was nervous. That was my first property. I didn’t have much money saved up. My mortgage was 100% of the purchase price. So what? The fact that the housing market crashed and the value of my condo drastically decreased did not make me feel anxiety, nervousness, and anger.

My perception of what that meant in my small world caused those feelings.

The reality was this:

•My condo was still a condo

•I could live in it or not

•I could rent it out, or not

•Pay the mortgage or not (moral obligation notwithstanding)

•Short sell it or not

Lots of options, but none of which I could think of while my brain was occupied with fear and anxiety.

Events are just events. You can observe them for what they are and learn from them. Or, you can let them dictate your emotional well-being. What do I try to do? Move on.

Focus on what I can control and move on.

Epictetus said, “It isn't events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgments about them."

Do you agree?

Feel free to reach out to discuss this further.