Lessons From 2020

There is no argument 2020 was in many ways a dumpster fire of a year. And although we are now in 2021, the embers of the preceding year are still smoldering, sometimes shooting forth fresh flames. But there is still a lot to glean from the preceding year, regardless of the challenges and frustrations it brought with it.

If we learned anything from 2020, it is how little control we really have over life around us. Life is volatile and unpredictable. As the chaos and uncertainty ran rampant, many felt helpless and disempowered.

And while the outcomes in life are largely out of our control, we should not lose heart. For one, those chaotic results – while not under our control – still can be influenced by our choices. And that must be a major focus in life: the circle of influence you do control.

I cannot control whether people are hateful and nasty around me, but I can still choose to act out of grace and with kindness. I cannot control how the world has changed around me, but I can choose to still be grateful for the many blessings that punctuate my life. I cannot control the spread of the virus or the availability of a vaccine, but I can choose to take care of myself and create healthy habits for my physical, mental, and emotional well-being. I cannot control all the negativity and fear mongering on the news, but I can choose to not begin my day with that toxicity and instead select activities that are uplifting and encouraging.

There is much neither you nor I can control. Outcomes are fickle and unpredictable. But inputs – your own choices and behavior – are within your power to influence and control. We must be careful not to waste effort attempting to wrestle that which we cannot control. Let us make 2021 the year we focus on inputs and not outcomes.

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