Tuning Out The Noise - 3rd Quarter 2020
“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” - Blaise Pascal
Dear Valued Client,
Over the last few months, we all have seen shifts in the world’s landscape that we haven’t seen in decades and maybe for most of us, ever. In some ways, the Coronavirus has been a completely new phenomenon fueled by globalism, lack of medical preparation, and of course the overwhelming media that fuels the frenzy. In other ways, it is just another example of an event that caught the entire world and its people completely off guard; evoking both a knee-jerk apprehension-at-large and simultaneously a drive to adapt and overcome. For some people in the last few months, it has been an opportunity to reflect, regroup, and to reconnect with their family and their communities. For others, the pandemic has been a snare into which they have fallen victim to fear, panic, and bias driven by an unstoppable machine made up of nasty politics, public propaganda, and daily uncertainty that is drilled into us by some media outlets and purposefully designed to evoke sensationalism. There has never been a more important time to focus on what really matters in this life we are all so fortunate to live. In essence, the answer to most of our problems can be found in subtle and silent gratitude.
In just three short (or long) months depending on your perspective, we have seen the financial markets go through a roller coaster ride whose stomach-wrenching inertia has at SOME point made most of us queasy. This is neither unique to the history of the stock market’s behavior during times of uncertainty nor should it surprise us (even though it continues to do so) when chaotic events unfold. As it stands today, June 30th, the S&P 500 index has gained roughly 35% since the index’s rock bottom low on March 23, 2020 when the market had completely imploded due to the hurricane of coronavirus uncertainty. “Everything will be ok” is a phrase I’ve seen people picketing in their front lawns since the start of this public crisis that at once comes off so very patronizing but also echoes such an eternal truth. Nothing sensational lasts…for better or for worse. Life itself is a rollercoaster, one in which we have certain things we can control and certain things we cannot. Serenity is found in knowing the difference between the two. If that sounds like verbiage you’ve heard in Sunday school before, it’s because it is. It might indeed be my favorite spiritual verbiage and perhaps even a life mantra I strive to embrace daily.
Short of being a global leader or big pocket puppeteer, we can’t control the erratic, big scale chaos that happens right before our eyes in the world today. What we DO have control over is how we handle it and more importantly, how we handle ourselves. Obviously as a financial advisor, I’m bound to reiterate this notion when it comes to one’s investments and maintaining a long-term perspective. As long as the world continues to grow and evolve, so should we reap the rewards of our financial ownership in the stocks and bonds of fantastic, innovative companies. What your investments and personal life both have in common is that how we choose to manage our emotions and our internal peace is what makes the ride either unbearable or exhilarating. Sometimes it’s as simple as tuning out the noise and tuning into ourselves.
Every morning I wake up and ask myself what I can accomplish over that which I actually have control. It might be making someone smile, assisting a stranger in public, or cooking dinner for my household at the end of the day so that everyone can unwind. More often than not, it’s the simple things we have at our disposal that can make a meaningful impact and simultaneously bring us a more fulfilling life. This is easier said than done by the way. We are currently in an era where change and unsettling affairs are more prevalent than they have ever been; real people are still dying from a very new and real globally-affecting disease, civil unrest and a new era in the fight for racial justice and equality has arrived in the country just on the coattails of the century’s largest global pandemic, people’s day-to-day financial means have been compromised, and most of us have had our routines completely upended. Not only is it a lot of change for only six months-time, but it’s change that has had very real, dire consequences. I feel these are the moments when we have the CHOICE to dwell on the blessings right before our eyes and be thankful for that which we have. Be thankful for everything you can possibly fathom. Be thankful we live in a country where the freedom of choice and the pursuit of happiness are legally granted rights. Every single day CHOOSE joy and peace…because the alternative is just miserable.
CRN-3103833-052820
