Sales of booze are on the rise across the US this year. The state of Ohio recorded record levels of liquor sales in fiscal 2010. Iowa reported an upward trend in liquor sales this year. And Business Wire noted positive trends in the sale of alcoholic beverages at bars and restaurants.

This should come as no surprise. Whenever the economy is in the trash, people gravitate to booze. Add to our economic woes incessant politically charged debate—in the news, among friends, even in our homes—and you’ll notice, as I have, that many of us are edgy.

The emotion at the root of this anxiety is fear. Consider a few common fears and all the factors that play into these worries. The fear of dying can be triggered by poor health, the fear of becoming ill, accidents, smoking, etc. Money worries can be all consuming, relating to everything from job instability and unemployment to the stock market, IRAs, and 401Ks, and real estate. Fearing loss of soul, there’s a grave concern over the social direction of our country. Let’s not forget the fear of natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, blizzards, heat waves, droughts, fires, etc. Then there are man-made disasters that cause anxiety such as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s no wonder people are looking for an escape.

Spring is always around the corner
Fear can be debilitating. So what’s the antidote? I came up with an answer years ago when dealing with anxiety on a personal level.

When my wife cheerfully announced that we were expecting our first child, I joined in her elation…for about fifteen seconds. Then, I went directly into preservation and protection mode. Like a meteor, the responsibility of a child came crashing down on me.  Suddenly I began to worry about the baby’s education, where we would live, the friends she would meet, whether she was going to learn how to survive, and whether she would be happy—and she wasn’t even born yet.

The scene was repeated and compounded with announcements of the second, third, and fourth pregnancies. Each time my wife was overjoyed and full of love, and each time I started worrying about details that were totally out of my control.

I know guys can relate to this experience. Whenever I describe this fear to men I get the “right on” nod.

My edge, as in “on the edge,” became sharper with the addition of each of our children. And that’s OK. I’ve discovered that hope combats fear. Hope is defined as the feeling that events will turn out for the best. Hope is the absence, control of, or minimization of fear.

With hope comes balance. “Things can always be worse,” is a great statement. It may seem trite but it is so accurate. When we are caught up in the moment, fear can send chills through our body, but once we take control of our frame of mind we realize that everything is going to be OK. Spring is always around the corner.

Have you ever wondered why Easter and Passover are celebrated in the spring, after the death of winter? More than throwbacks to ancient pagan rituals about the rebirth of the world, these holy days are triumphs over fear. They are divine.

Whether on a personal level or on a macro level, history and nature prove that everything passes through a season. Avoid fear’s grip during this challenging period because “Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)