Initial Thoughts on: What are the Upsides of This Major Downturn?

I thought I'd 'prime the pump' of our collective thinking and wisdom prior to the
upcoming April Open Space on the topic of: What are the Upsides of This Major Downturn?
Here are some of my initial thoughts:

We've all heard plenty about the major down turn that we're in the
midst of. The news media is having a real hay day with it all. Unemployment
continues to rise, home foreclosures are everywhere, and no one seems to
know quite what to do about it all.

But let's take a step back and look at this from a different perspective.

Let's say for the moment that we live in a universe where there are no
accidents. I know that can be a bit of a challenge in its own right,
especially when it looks like there's been a major accident on the universal
freeway, but I don't think so.

I believe there are some major upsides to this major downturn and I’d like to
explore how focusing on the upsides can be far more productive than becoming
caught in the downward spiral of negativity so prevalent in the media these days.

I think it's more likely that we've been paid a visit from the Universal UPS
Truck.

================
The Universal UPS Truck
================
I still remember when my coach at that time, Michelle Lisenbury Christensen,
shared with me about the Universal UPS Truck. It went something like this:

The Universal UPS truck drives up to your home. Inside it, there's a package
with your name on it, and inside the package is a present just for you.
Now, if you don't come to the door when the driver tries to deliver the
package, it's not a problem. The Universal UPS truck will simply return
again, and again until the package is delivered, just like a regular UPS
truck....with one important exception.

Each time the Universal UPS truck attempts to deliver the package with the
gift inside, it gets a bit more intentional, even forceful with its
attempts, until finally, if you continue to refuse the package, the
Universal UPS truck drives through your living room.

Quite a wake up call, right? Well, perhaps we're being given the
opportunity to wake ourselves up...but to what?

================
3 Upsides to this Down Turn
================
I think the package we're being delivered has at least 3 gifts inside. They
are:

** The opportunity to re-evaluate our lives

** The opportunity to simplify our lives

** The opportunity to know our true Self

In a couple of days, I’ll share my ‘purposeful ponderings’ on the opportunity to re-evaluate our lives.”