Ah, yes, I remember it well (Part 1).

The Dow dropped 360 points yesterday. Are you concerned about the stock market? Worried about the economy? Afraid of energy cost inflation? Of course you are. You read the papers and listen to the news. You’re not brain dead!

Would you like to be able to set those fears aside, or at least reduce them substantially? Of course you would. You know that worrying doesn’t help. You’re not a masochist!

Well, here’s all you have to do.

Stop reading the papers and listening to the news.

Really. You would be amazed how a self-imposed news blackout can bring peace and tranquility to even the most tormented investor.

Realistically, of course, a total news blackout is almost impossible. You can run, but you can’t hide from the barrage of rantings and ravings from the “news” peddlers. But, all is not lost. I have found another way to retain and actually enhance one’s perspective, even when all those around you are losing theirs.

But, I’m going to make you wait a week. And, in the meantime, I have an assignment for you.

Try NOT reading your usual daily newspaper, at least not the business section or articles on the economy, for the next seven days. Just stack the papers in a corner. In fact, even if you do succumb to those self-destructive impulses and read some of the papers, still stack them in a corner. If your news comes via the Internet, print the one or two articles each day whose headlines most forcefully demand your attention, and stack them in a corner. And, of course, do all you can to avoid the TV and radio newscasts.

It’s just a week. You can do it. And, I assure you, you will be surprised at the results.