Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

THE FED HAS RAISED INTEREST RATES

What Economic Shifts Can Teach Us About Personal Balance

When the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, it’s not just about inflation, it’s about restoring equilibrium. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this moment offers a metaphor for personal reflection. Just as the economy adjusts to new pressures, so can we. This post explores how financial policy mirrors our need for emotional and relational balance.

This week the Federal Reserve decided to raise interest rates in an effort to stave off rising inflation. The process goes like this. When prices are climbing, a rise in interest rates makes purchasing those things more difficult. The idea is that as purchasing goes down, the producers of things will lower prices so more things will be bought. The ebb and flow of the economy depends on this balance. How is this balance maintained? How is it helpful?

Balance in the economy is important and perhaps critical. The same is true for our lives. Balance is life-giving. When we are out of balance, we are in trouble. We are at risk for falling. Who or what will be there to catch us? The Federal Reserve trusts that when they raise interest rates, there will be a corrective response, and prices will adjust and come down, consumers will start buying again, and then interest rates can come down, and the merry-go-round continues.

This is all about balance. How do you put balance into your life? If we were to do a factual report of your time for the past week, what would we see? Take that challenge and lay out a timeline on the page. Where did you go? What did you do? Who did you experience? What drew your attention? What did you accomplish? How we invest our time can give us clear information about our priorities.

You say you love your family, and your calendar shows that you never made it home for dinner in the past week. You missed your daughter’s swim meet for a client call. You value your physical health, and the treadmill in the basement is a place to hang coats. You fancy yourself an intellectual, but you have not read a book in the past 6 months, and you fall asleep in front of the television every night.

How would you rate your interest in you? Your family? Your spouse? Your children? Your health? Your intellect? Examine these carefully. It is time to raise your own interest rates.

If you’re feeling out of balance, therapy can help you recalibrate. Explore individual therapy in Maryland and DC or learn more about therapeutic approaches that support emotional clarity and intentional living. For more on how interest rates affect your financial life, see Forbes’ explainer on Fed rate hikes.