We Can Become the Solution to the World’s Problems

There is little doubt that we live in a complex and interconnected world facing various challenges like climate change, politics, inequality, and poverty, to name a few. Some issues seem trivial, others are monumental, and others are perceived as unsolvable, given the attitudes in society today.

In essence, we are the problem. Behind everything going on, human choices, biases, and attitudes perpetuate all of the negativity in the world.

On the other hand, we are also the solution. We can solve many of today’s issues by changing ourselves, interacting, and positively impacting our environment.

As global citizens, we are responsible for solving these problems. The great news is that we can make a difference in many ways. Here are some actionable steps to become part of the solution to the world’s problems.

Define your values:

Start by identifying the values that are most important to you. These could be honesty, respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, or any other matters that you believe are essential for a person of integrity. Ensure you understand what these values mean and how to uphold them daily.

Also, understand your biases and how they help determine or undermine your values. It is so easy to claim that we have unconscious biases that we can’t control, but I believe it is possible to bring them to the forefront and deal with them. Refer to number 5 for further discussion.

Live your values:

Once you have identified your values, living them consistently is essential. Living your values means making choices and decisions that align with your values, even when difficult or unpopular. Always be aware of your actions and words, and make sure they reflect your values.

Also, ensure you understand the impact those actions, choices, and decisions have on others because that is part of honesty.

Be honest:

Honesty is a cornerstone of integrity. Always tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. When you screw up, own up to it and take responsibility for your actions. Honesty builds trust and credibility with others and helps you maintain your integrity.

Ensure your honesty is focused on facts, observations, results, and sound logic, wholly immersed in compassion and humility. Today, we have many opinions with a grain of truth but have been twisted, bent, biased, or converted before being distributed as fact. In reality, they have no semblance of truth.

Keep your commitments:

When you make a promise or commitment, make sure you follow through. It shows that you are reliable and trustworthy and reinforces your integrity.

Build goals into your daily and business life so there are always stepping stones to reach and celebrate. These will provide positive reinforcement for keeping your commitments to others.

Too many people today view commitments as superfluous and innocuous enough to be disposable. If this is your point of view, then start examining the external cost of that view. It is surprising how much damage it can cause to everyone.

Practice self-reflection & self-awareness:

Reflect on your thoughts, feelings, biases, and actions. Consider how they align with your values and if there are areas where you can improve.

Be willing to change where necessary to improve your value foundation and make it as inclusive and diverse as possible. We have much more in common as humans than differences; however, those differences build walls, silos, and curtains of hatred. We need to focus on the commonality and minimize the differences.

Be open to feedback from others and use it to grow and develop as a person of integrity.

Surround yourself with positive influences:

Seek associates, friends, and other people who share your values and inspire you to be the best version of yourself.

Avoid falling into the trap of looking for followers who want groupthink-driven lives. Avoid needing positive feedback from everyone because everyone won’t see you the same way.

If you choose to be an online influencer with millions of followers, understand that among those followers will be haters, lurkers, and other opposing groups that do not have your best interest in mind.

Avoid negative influences and situations that may compromise your integrity. Maintaining your integrity will take a lot of energy and focus.

Be accountable:

Taking responsibility for your actions and decisions and admitting you’re wrong shows that you are eager to learn and grow and committed to maintaining your integrity.

Being accountable is a choice, albeit it is an important choice that we have the privilege of making in all parts of our lives, so we need to embrace that right and share it with others.

Reinvent and educate yourself:

Stay informed about global and local issues and developments. Read articles and books, and watch documentaries to increase your knowledge and understanding of the world’s problems. Learn to participate in critical thinking and avoid the temptation of groupthink.

Don’t avoid books that contradict your values or point of view but challenge their premise and constructively evaluate their message versus your values, principles, and vision. You can ignore, embrace, or adopt some of it to improve your life. You are in control.

Avoid books, articles, and gatherings that promise lightning-in-a-jar solutions to all your problems. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is for everyone but the initiator.

This straightforward step will help you make informed decisions and converse with others when combined with the other steps listed below. No action in this list stands alone, so stop reading here if you are looking for that.

Rethink, reduce, reuse, and recycle wherever possible:

Adopt adaptable-friendly habits and minimize your environmental footprint and extend your brand. These don’t have to be radical habit changes, just simple, everyday thought-out actions that will make a difference.

For example, imagine if every person used one less gallon of water daily. Then we would be conserving over 7+ billion gallons daily. However, there are some places on the globe where they can’t save the 1 gallon because there isn’t enough, then we can share those extra gallons with the world.

Reduce waste by consuming less, reusing items, and recycling materials whenever possible. Saving water is one step that contributes to a more sustainable future and helps combat climate change.

This concept also includes rethinking the why’s, what’s, and hows of your career and relationships. Nothing is more challenging yet more rewarding than reinventing yourself periodically. Some may be recycled thoughts, ideas, and emotions, while others will be completely outside our comfort zones.

Support businesses that prioritize sustainability and fair labor practices. Daily we are inundated with ads and promotions that trigger our FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) or limited availability fears. When you can control your desire for more stuff, you can expand and grow your value without the baggage of too much stuff.

Look for alternatives, purchasing locally-made products or items produced using common sense principles and limited biases. Possibly these can help reduce carbon emissions and promote social justice.

However, don’t expect to find any of these changes quickly or handed to you on a silver platter.

It will take work finding them and ensuring they do what they promise by trying them, comparing notes with others, adopting, and supplying support if they perform well.

Volunteer, donate, participate:

Donate your time and skills to local or global organizations working on various causes. However, invest your time wisely.

Investigate any organization to understand its values and performance. If too much money is spent on overhead and not enough on purpose, then it is wise to avoid that organization.

Volunteering can have a significant impact on both your personal development and the communities you serve. But here, you need to apply self-awareness and learn how to balance selfishness and selflessness because it is easy to become so dedicated to a cause that you lose sight of your health, family, and purpose.

Actively participate in the political process by voting, attending public meetings, and advocating for policies that address global issues whenever possible.

But understand that politics today can be a dangerous place to partake in due to the extremes’ dogmatic and often hyper-critical nature. We need to find a solution for political divisiveness in today’s world. Democracy is designed to be a give-and-take with a responsibility to the greater good, not feed the coffers of one group at the expense of another.

While isolation seems to be the preferred place, we are at that stage of human growth where isolation will only lead to revolution, so common sense must prevail.

Your involvement can influence decision-makers and contribute to positive change. The key operative word here is “POSITIVE.”

Contribute financially to reputable organizations and causes that align with your values. Research to ensure your donations make the most significant impact possible.

Avoid organizations where the overhead is more than 25% of the gross funds available, especially if the chief fundraising individual is paid significantly for that service.

Practice empathy and tolerance:

Cultivate a mindset of empathy, understanding, and tolerance. Engage in respectful conversations and listen to different perspectives, fostering an environment of inclusion and collaboration.

To manage this well means that you understand your biases and their impact on your daily interactions and lives. When you become self-aware of your biases and learn to control the emotions tied to them, you can understand empathy and tolerance at a new level.

We may not always agree, but we need to allow enough room for variety in life without domination and exploitation making choices for us.

Please share your knowledge with others and encourage them to get involved in addressing global issues. Social media platforms can be used responsibly to raise awareness and inspire action.

Lead by Example:

Leading by example is by far the most critical item on the list. When you insert these practices into your daily life, you can inspire others to do the same. By embodying the changes you want to see, you can become a powerful force for good in the world.

Conclusion:

Becoming part of solving the world’s problems is possible and essential. By taking these thoughts and steps, you can contribute to a better, more sustainable, and equitable future for all.

Remember, every small action counts; we can make a significant difference together. The key is not just reading about it, agreeing to it, or ignoring it but rather doing something to impact change.