The bad economic news just doesn’t seem to end, does it? Food and gas prices are skyrocketing while the housing and job markets are tanking. Everyone’s feeling the pinch—it’s a scary, stressful time. But please don’t use the economy as an excuse to avoid changing your course. A lousy economy could actually be an opportunity in disguise.

Making changes in this climate does take careful thought and planning but nothing good can happen until you move from anxiety to positive action. It’s your choice. You can worry about circumstances that are beyond your control or you can determine which elements of your life are open to change. Maybe it’s your job, maybe it’s where you live or maybe it’s how you spend your spare time. But positive adjustments can always be made.

Here’s your challenge. Find an opportunity to improve some area of your life. Whether the change is big or small, the point is to use the bad economy as a wake-up call. Instead of merely reacting to life’s events as they occur, take charge and create your own circumstances. Each time you make a change, you build the confidence and momentum you need for the next step.

You’re smart. Use your brain and your talents to your advantage. Do more than just survive the bad economy—benefit from it. Take control and make some changes!

To read more about this in the Washington Post, please click here.