The Fight That Matters Most in 2025
Bird eating from a person’s hand.
One fight will be more critical this year than all the rest: the fight to know our actions matter.
It is easy, of course, to think they don’t. Or don’t matter enough. Or that we cannot win the battle—even for vital things such as a healthy climate and democracy.
After all, the challenges of living in a polycrisis are significant, and this year, they will be even more complex.
Yet, we cannot give into the myth of powerlessness.
The Most Corrosive Narrative of Our Time
In fact, I would argue that the most corrosive narrative of our day is the one that suggests we are powerless.
Powerless to reign in climate change.
Powerless to protect democracy.
Powerless to advance equality or care for those who need it.
Powerless to stop the train of destruction headed our way.
Powerless to model a better way of being.
I once asked the late Stanford University professor Philip Zimbardo why he thought more people didn’t fight for essential things like a healthy climate. His answer was as pointed as his goatee:
“Everyone is told they can make a difference,” he said. “And no one believes it.”
We must get to the root of that belief and change it.
Why This Fight Can’t Wait
We cannot give in to the notion (one I, too, have considered) of stepping back, riding out the next few years, and focusing on our personal lives alone until, we hope, sanity again takes hold in the world.
That won’t happen without us. How could it?
We must believe our actions matter because they do.
Direct, one-on-one action matters. Fighting for system change matters. And being a voice for what is good matters. It all matters on any scale and in every venue available to us.
Countless studies and stories support this truth. For example:
A study published in Nature found that when just 25% of people take small, coordinated actions, it can create tipping points that shift societal norms.
The American Psychological Association recently reported on a growing body of research suggesting that restoring hope is a vital first step in cultivating positive change in yourself, others, or society.
Many studies have shown that role models of ethical leadership—even those who speak up for what is right—inspire others.
Integrity: The Compass for Action
In the framework of Ordinary Heroism in Extraordinary Times that I teach, all of this speaks to the critical role of integrity:
Being clear about our values.
Allowing those values to guide us.
Aligning with others to take purposeful action.
We may not know where our actions will lead, but knowing they matter—for us and others—lets us walk the path of integrity and plant the seeds of a better future.
The Power of Small Actions
At an Aspen Institute climate conference, I once heard National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore share a story about an elderly woman who spent part of every day feeding endangered birds.
Knowing she could only feed one or two or three a day, some people suggested it was too insignificant to matter.
Her response? She pointed to the last bird she fed and said, “It mattered to that one.”
Discover How to Make Your Actions Matter
This winter, I’m offering talks, workshops, and coaching on Ordinary Heroism in Extraordinary Times. This original framework is designed to help participants cultivate the timeless skills of heroism coupled with the modern skills of perception, presence, and power needed to navigate uncertainty, complexity, and change,
Put another way, this program helps to
Lessen overwhelm, anxiety, and disengagement,
And boost clarity, courage, and purpose
Interested? Let’s connect to discuss how my talks, workshops, and coaching on Ordinary Heroism in Extraordinary Timescan help you or your organization navigate uncertainty with clarity, courage, and purpose. Schedule your complimentary 20-minute discovery session here.