Three Ways You Can Turn Panic Into Happiness

In an article for the Huffington Post written in August, Ed and Deb Shapiro observed: "We are witnessing an outbreak of panic and fear as people in the US respond with misunderstanding and ignorance to falsely perceived threats to their welfare. There is a tremendous fear of and resistance to change, which cause further suffering." We recalled this piece when we heard that a U.S. Senate committee had rejected a public option for health care; it appears our elected officials are afraid of making real change.

The Shapiros take a cue from Tibetan Buddhists and suggest that panic can be turned into happiness by three steps. This process forms the basis of meditation and offers us the opportunity to empathize with all others who experience panic just like us. In this confrontational period of our history, understanding those who are fearful is more important than ever.