Overwhelm is everywhere.

Wars are dividing countries and destroying families across the globe — the effects of which reach far beyond geographical borders. In the United States, the impending presidential election is akin to a ticking time bomb, causing unhealthy dissension at best, and volatile derision at worst. There are so many things coming at us, even in our personal and professional lives, that can cause us to despair. We may feel powerless and tempted to avoid everything, burying our heads in the sand in the hope “it will all blow over soon.” Historically, though, we know this never works.

What history does show us, however, is that many impactful changes began as grassroots movements. When people like you and me get together for a common goal, change becomes possible. Instead of focusing on what we can’t control, we must seek out the things we can.

February is not only Black History Month, but is also home to the World Day of Social Justice, designed to raise awareness around issues like poverty, gender and racial inequality, and human rights. Choose an issue you care about and break it down to one thing you can do – then do it! For example, most of us aren’t in a position to end world hunger, but there are ways to get involved in our communities.

Are government officials not tapping you for strategies to mitigate racial pay disparities? Find and support local organizations that are striving towards this goal. Better yet, if you’re a leader in your organization, how can you help your organization get one step closer to equity in this area?

The bottom line is, that the best way to navigate overwhelm is to find one way to take action in moving forward. I challenge all of us to donate, protest, show up, and learn more. Let’s do something by getting out into our communities to tackle the overwhelm and create real change.

With appreciation,

Stacey Gordon, MBA
Rework Work CEO