***The Top Five Signs of a Brave Person

written by Harvey Rephen

Given the hard economic times we as a country are facing, especially the Boomer, there is a stronger awareness as to what is really important in our lives. It’s not so much about the wealth in the bank, as too many of us are watching it dwindling faster and faster with each passing day, but it’s more about the intrinsic value of the wealth of a person.

Today there are just too many people stuck in an emotional trap of disparity over financial matters and are being forced to take a stand in a new way. It doesn’t matter that it’s from the loss of a job, health, wealth or any combination there of. A person’s true wealth is based on something even more valuable; it’s based on the integrity of the person and how they choose to live their lives. The best way to judge this is by following a few simple guidelines, known as the Top Five Signs of a brave person:

1- Know when to ask for help.

2- Keep on moving forward for the sake of family.

3- Keep a sense of hope that things will get better with the next step.

4- Take the advice of good counsel.
5- Know the best way to be strong is to have strong support.

First, no one can exist without help in some way shape or form. Know to ask for help when …

* you are over burdened by the stress of not having enough money to pay basic bills
* there are people constantly calling and harassing ‘you must pay now’
* people are threatening to sue you or to freeze your bank account.
Resolution: Seek competent counsel; you cannot be as effective as a professional. Good counsel can get the harassment to stop and even get them to listen to reason.
Second, when you don’t feel strong enough to keep on moving forward for yourself.
Resolution: Think of those around you that are important to you, and how you giving up on yourself would devastate them.

Third, a strong mental positive attitude combined with affirmative action will be the key to turn wishful thinking into desired outcome.

Resolution: In this case, form a plan of action to create mental relief from the pressure.

Fourth, no matter how competent the counsel is or good the advice given, it cannot be carried out without your willingness to take an active role and make the appropriate decisions.

Resolution: Balance between having trust in good counsel, letting them do their job and know when to make your own decisions.

Fifth, above all it takes an extremely strong person to admit that they are not strong enough alone and need help. So whenever somebody comes to me asking for help, the first thing that comes to my mind is that I am honored to have the responsibility of helping, protecting, and strengthening this person.