The losses are more than just paper. It feels like loss of the order of things, and perhaps loss of faith. It reminds me of W. B. Yeats' line, from The Second Coming, "Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold." From this vantage point however, I see an opportunity arising that may call upon each one of us to contribute to restoring a sense of order and belief in the promise of the future.

It is times like this current crisis that Americans may need to stand up and show the world that we do not buckle or cower when things get tough. We may be afraid and unsure about the future, but we have tenacity and determination on our side. And we have freedom. Exercising our freedom to make choices is what we must now do.

Here are three things that we can do to lead us out of this mess and towards a brighter future: focus on things we can control; keep our heads with respect to investments; and remember that we are all in this together.

First, in this time of uncertainty, let's make sure we focus on the things over which we do have some control, our daily lives. The financial crisis is a signal that it is time to get our own "houses" in order. Choose to take action, starting small if you have to, to make sure your finances are on a good track. Whether it is paying off a credit card, or trying to boost the size of your rainy day fund, there is always something you can do to be more fiscally responsible. You will no doubt be hearing this a lot, but we need to spend less than we earn. It's that simple. Living within our means will become a national imperative, particularly if we want our children to inherit a better world.

Next, we need to keep our heads. This is a time when we will be called upon to show courage and resolve in fixing the problems of our country. This can take the form of getting out to vote and holding our elected officials accountable. But perhaps more important is investing in the future of our country. In a recent Wall Street Journal article, author James B. Stewart writes, "It is time for all of us to summon the courage to invest calmly and rationally and in doing so demonstrate our confidence in the potential of the global economy and in our fellow man."

This requires that we choose to act against our emotions, which tell us to just, "get the heck out!" We need to remind ourselves that no one can time the markets. History tells us that it is usually the individual investor who is last to buy in a bull market and the last to sell in a bear market. This explains why it feels like the market goes the opposite direction of whatever we do. We must remember that prices are down and if our favorite ice cream is on sale, we usually buy a little more of it. Keep adding to your 401k. You don't have to be as risky as before. Be sure to allocate some money to bonds. There are opportunities for those with fortitude and patience.

Lastly, I would like us all to remember that we are in this together. We will all be making sacrifices and have our own specific challenges to face. We can all contribute in our own ways. If we choose to practice kindness and compassion within our own families, it will carry over into how we relate to others whose paths we cross in our daily lives. We can all get through this together, helping each other along. As Plato said, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle."