Making a Difference in a World Full of Problems

I stumbled on a person’s wall and all I saw were discontent about everything, from inflation to the cash crunch to the failed bank in Silicon Valley. It left me wondering how miserable he must be feeling.

It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by the problems in this country and the world at large. There are countless large-scale issues — poverty, political instability, unemployment — that seem insurmountable. It’s natural to want to fix these problems, to make the world a better place. However, focusing too much on these large-scale issues can be counterproductive. It can leave you feeling powerless and frustrated, as though you’re not making any progress.

Instead, it’s important to focus on what you can control. There is plenty within your sphere of influence that you can fix — problems that you have the power to solve. This might include issues in your personal life (taking that course, reading that book), your community (filling those potholes, organizing charity), or your workplace (standing in for a colleague, volunteering for a project). These problems might be small in comparison to INEC’s incompetence, but they still matter. They still have an impact on the people around you, and they are still worth addressing.

By focusing on what you can control, you can make a real difference in the world. You can use your skills and resources to solve problems, to make things better for yourself and those around you. And as you do, you’ll find that you gain a sense of power and agency. You realize that you have the ability to make a difference, that you are not powerless in the face of the world’s problems.

This doesn’t mean that you should ignore large-scale issues altogether. It’s important to be aware of them and to advocate for change where you can. But you should also recognize that you can’t fix everything, and that’s okay. It’s not your responsibility to solve every problem in this country. Instead, focus on what you can control, on the problems that are within your sphere of influence. By doing so, you’ll be able to make a real impact, and you’ll find that you feel more empowered and fulfilled.

I have noticed that it is those who do the little they can in their immediate environment that others call upon on a societal level.