Now is the time to figure out what really matters. Is it home? Family? Love? Many people seem to think so. I certainly have been searching inside myself, in these surprising times, and inside the writers' stories I edit for a deeper heart of meaning.
That's why I watched with delight as Wall Street's barons were called before the House Financial Services Committee this week to answer for their excessive behavior, but not for the same reasons that most Americans rubbed their hands with glee.
What captivated me was how the unfolding drama encapsulated the effect Obama-Inspired Truth Serum is having on our culture. Here sat some of the most highly-paid men in America, apologizing for -- let's face it -- being inauthentic. They had to admit they were out of touch with what it means to be an aware human being.
And while I don't expect this Truth Serum to have a long-ranging effect on corporate culture, I do see it sending out a curious ripple effect: People everywhere are reaching out for love relationships. Professional matchmaking businesses across the country -- online and offline -- are buzzing with business. New memberships are higher than they've been in years.
In the face of economic strain, people everywhere are turning toward human connection.
As a story expert this heartens me, because I know no one can be in a real relationship without sharing an authentic story about who they are in the world -- what makes them smile, what makes them vulnerable.
And only if we are authentic with the stories we tell about who we are, and what we love, and what we need, will we know what really matters. Then we can begin to make a difference.