Navigating Chaos, Part Two: What’s Yours to Do in a Fractured World
In chaotic and troubling times, when the world feels unsteady and overwhelming, it’s easy to either try to take on too much or shut down entirely. Neither response serves us—or the world.
In my previous blog post, Navigating Chaos: Ground Yourself with Love and Focus, I introduced a grounding question:
What’s the most loving thing I can do right now within my circles of influence?
Today, we’ll take a deeper dive into this question by exploring two clarifying principles:
Whom can you actually impact?
What is uniquely yours to do?
These questions not only help you navigate complexity, but they also invite you to step into your most authentic, impactful expression of self. Let’s explore how.
1. Whom Can You Actually Impact?
One of the greatest challenges of modern life is the sheer scope of our awareness. With newsfeeds, headlines, and social media delivering a constant flow of global crises, it’s easy to feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders.
But there’s a profound difference between being aware of everything and being responsible for everything. To find clarity, start by asking yourself:
Where does my presence, care, and action make the most difference right now?
For most of us, the answer lies closer than we think. It might be in a meaningful conversation with a family member, showing up for a friend in need, or being present with your local community. These are the spaces where your impact is immediate and profound.
That said, this question also invites growth. Perhaps you feel a call to expand your reach—to write, teach, lead, or advocate in ways that extend beyond your immediate circles. Honor that call, but temper it with humility. The key is not to take on everything, but to focus on what’s achievable and aligned with your energy and values.
2. What Is Uniquely Yours to Do?
The second question asks something even deeper:
What is uniquely mine to do in this moment?
This is an invitation to align your actions with your Unique Self—the distinct combination of gifts, passions, and life experiences that only you bring to the world.
Too often, we fall into roles that don’t reflect who we truly are. For years, I worked as a lawyer-politician, driven by my passion for justice and change. But over time, I realized that while my desire to serve was real, the role itself wasn’t aligned with my constitution. I often felt drained and disconnected.
Clarifying what is uniquely yours to do often begins by subtracting. Ask yourself:
What roles or expectations no longer serve me?
Where am I saying “yes” out of obligation, rather than authenticity?
For me, the work of subtraction led to a shift. I realized my true gifts lie in counseling, creating music, leading processes, and building loving relationships. By focusing my energy here, I’ve been able to contribute in ways that feel authentic and impactful.
Your journey may look different, but the essence is the same: when you align with your unique role, your actions gain a power and clarity that ripple outward.
How Narrowing Your Focus Expands Your Impact
It’s a paradox: the narrower your focus, the greater your impact.
When you concentrate your energy on the people, communities, and actions that truly matter to you, you’re able to show up fully. These small, intentional acts ripple outward, creating change far beyond what you can see.
This doesn’t mean ignoring the world’s larger issues. It means trusting that by acting authentically and purposefully in your sphere of influence, you’re contributing to the greater good in ways that are both sustainable and deeply meaningful.
Practical Steps to Navigate Chaos with Clarity
Here’s how you can integrate these two principles into your daily life:
Reflect on your circles of influence.
Who are the people or communities you’re most connected to?
Where can your presence and action create immediate impact?
Clarify your unique role.
What gifts, skills, or passions feel most alive in you?
Are there roles or responsibilities you’re carrying that no longer align with your true self?
Take intentional action.
Pause and ask yourself: What’s the most loving thing I can do right now?
Trust the answer, no matter how small it seems. Every action counts.
Final Thoughts: What’s Yours to Do
The enormity of the world’s problems can feel paralyzing, but clarity emerges when we focus on these two questions:
Whom can I actually impact?
What is uniquely mine to do?
By grounding yourself in these inquiries, you create a foundation for meaningful, sustainable action. You don’t have to take on the whole world. You only have to bring the fullness of who you are to what’s yours to do.
When you act from this place, you’ll find that it is enough. It always has been.
