Are You Thinking Too Small About What You Can Change?

"These statements sound reasonable; even wise. But this seemingly practical mindset reveals a belief that actually amplifies anxiety while keeping our vision and impact small. That belief? That the big picture just "is what it is"-and that our best option is just to learn to navigate it better. Obviously, understanding our limitations is wise. Taking action where we can is imperative. And we must all navigate the world as it currently is."

"Believing that big-picture change is impossible doesn't just limit our impact; it actively increases anxiety and stress. Research on learned helplessness shows that once we come to see positive change as impossible, we're likely to stop trying even when new opportunities emerge. This learned sense of powerlessness fuels the very anxiety we were trying to manage by "focusing on what we can control.""

Focusing only on what appears controllable can become a belief that large-scale change is impossible, which increases anxiety and reduces creativity and impact. Recognizing practical limitations is important, but distinguishing between choosing small-scale actions to support systemic change and accepting them as the only possibility matters. Research on learned helplessness shows that seeing positive change as impossible suppresses effort when new opportunities arise. Many decisions about advancing change rest on unexamined assumptions about limits. Effective response pairs immediate aid with upstream inquiry and system-focused work to prevent recurring harms and expand long-term impact.

Read at Psychology Today