This question, if applied every day will radically shift your life and your results. While at first glance it might seem a little "fluffy" for the business realm, if you've been buying into the recession, waiting for someone to save you, or letting the job climate hold you hostage, it's time to put this question into your decision matrix arsenal.

The power of this question was first posed to me by Debbie Ford while I was in her coach training program. It comes from her book The Right Questions: Ten Essential Questions to Guide You to an Extraordinary Life. Every choice we make either comes from a place of faith or fear. We don't gain fifty pounds as the result of one all you can eat buffet, but rather because of the way we make choices every day. Same holds true for debt, career, etc. It is the string of choices that create our reality. Making choices is always either an act of faith or an act of fear.

Unfortunately lately a lot of people have been acting purely from fear. Fear cuts us off to possibility. It keeps us frozen in place (usually in a place we don't like very much either I might add). Leah Grant talks in depth about "The Danger of Buying into the Recession". It is the ultimate act of fear and is a recipe for entrepreneurial disaster. Whether real or perceived, fear can invade our minds just from listening to everyone else blathering on about it. As Leah shares:

It seemed every interaction screamed "Recession, recession!" I ended my day with a nagging feeling of worry that I couldn't quite define.

After thinking about it some more, I realized that I was feeling worried about money which made no logical sense. I have had a profitable year, even more profitable than last year so I knew I was falling prey to fear.

What you focus on expands. Law of Attraction 101. Even if you don't buy into the law of attraction for whatever reason, simply consider this. If I tell you not to think about a hot fudge sundae, just notice how much hot fudge sundae will be on your mind all day no matter how hard you try to shake the thought. Ok, I'll wait now while you sprint to the ice cream parlor to satisfy the obsession. Not too far from the truth, right?

The problem is that fear and misery sells, stories of abundance don't. That means you have to cultivate your own abundance mindset. As Rev. Christine Green shares in "Choosing faith over fear":

We are told minute by minute how many people are without homes, jobs, food and health care. We don't hear about the shared housing program that matches people needing a place to live with a family that doesn't want to lose their home. We don't hear about students making a difference in their community.

We don't hear about the businesses that are thriving, only those that are tanking. And, even if we did hear about those knocking the ball out of the park we tend not to rejoice in their success but rather immediately label them as bad or greedy. Sure, some companies have a culture of unscrupulous and untethered greed, but most, especially smaller businesses are simply doing things they need to do to succeed. The jealousy their success triggers in us simply is a mirror into our own psyche (and more fear).

You see, as Julie Roads shares in "Fears Have Ears"

:

We hear what we say about ourselves -somewhere inside it gets internalized, and we believe it.

The fears have ears.

Are you feeding yours? Or blasting them out of the park?

The best way to stop feeding them is to disconnect from that tape you keep playing in your head.  That looks like:

• Not watching the frenzied reports from all forms of media.
• Not talking about 'how bad it is' but rather focusing on what you can and are doing.
• Doing things differently. If what you're doing isn't working, change it.
• Turning the dial on the radio station of your thoughts from fear to faith and then choosing from that space.

This holds true whether you are experiencing great success or utter ruin in the present day.  Remember you're in charge of what thoughts you choose to dwell on, the messages you listen to, the people you hang out with, and the choices you make.  Choose wisely because today is a reflection of the string of choices you've made in the past and if you would like a different future (large or small ways), start choosing wisely today for tomorrow depends on it.

Paula Gregorowicz, owner of The Paula G. Company, offers life and business coaching for women to help you gain the clarity, confidence, and courage you need to succeed on your own terms. Get the free eCourse "5 Steps to Move from Fear to Freedom" at her website

Get the latest word on personal finances from an LGBT perspective and Paula's practical coach approach to the topic at Queercents http://www.queercents.com.