As the media spins every topic in the most attention attracting way, whether it be as divisively as possible, or to reinforce their target audiences cognitive biases and emotions run high, it can be overwhelming to exist within the onslaught of information and opinions. I’ve written a few times lately on how to find direction and calm in the midst of the continually growing chaos in the world right now. Hopefully these ideas have been helpful and you’ve acted on them to help simplify and focus on things that will benefit you and those around you.

On this topic, one of the simplest pieces of advice I’ve received is to “Focus on what you can control.”

There are many things we can’t change due to lacking the position, resources, or even the will to put forth the effort needed or take the risks required to change certain things. Understanding and identifying the areas where we are expending effort to try to change something we have no influence over just adds undue stress and anxiety to our lives.

However, we can help change things for the better in our circles of influence. The first thing we can control is ourselves. We can change where we spend our energy and who we choose to invest our time in. We can make positive changes to our habits and encourage those closest to us to do the same. We can choose to eat better and exercise more and immediately see changes in our health and attitude.

We can take the time to help our families or friends with things in their lives. We can volunteer and help others we may not know. We can have a conversation about values and beliefs with close friends where we might be able to encourage them or share something with them that can encourage and grow them as people. We can help a friend make healthier decisions each day via checking in with them and helping them stay accountable. We can invite co-workers to activities outside of work or to come to the gym or go hiking with us. We can build relationships and support those who need it.

We all have a circle of influence where we can choose to encourage, motivate, and uplift those around us. Or we can focus on what the media wants to make us think or fear, what our neighbors are doing wrong, what we wish we could change about our families or friends, or literally a million other things that we can just sit and armchair quarterback from the comfort of our smartphones.

Or, we can focus on the things we can change and make small positive decisions that in the end will have far more influence on the world than we will likely ever know.