Recessions and depressions kill off things that are no longer working well for some reason. I believe those folks who embrace change and adapt quickly will suffer less. I also think that new growth gestates in darkness, so the best use of "dark times" is to gestate something beautiful and wonderful that has the potential to make for not just a better future but an amazing future.
Yeah, I get the sh*t kicked out of me for my excessive optimism/positivism. :-)