The best way to change the world

James Clear writes, “The best way to change the world is in concentric circles: start with yourself and work out from there.”

I share this today because so many people I talk to are very understandably distressed about what’s happening in our country and world. They want to help. They want to contribute to healing, justice, and connection. And yet they feel stuck. The problems feel enormous. They don’t know where to start.

That’s where this wisdom comes in: Transformation starts in the circle closest to you. It starts with yourself.

For example, if you want to be a Transformational Coach—someone who supports others to grow, reflect, and change—you must cultivate those capacities within yourself. That’s why in The Art of Transformational Coaching workshop, we don’t begin with techniques. We start with:

• who you want to be as a coach
• how you listen
• the beliefs you hold
• your presence

When you strengthen your inner world, you expand your ability to impact your outer one.

This is also why one of my favorite coaching tools is the Spheres of Influence, a framework that helps coaches move from overwhelm to clarity by identifying what they can control, what they can influence, and what they cannot.

When the world feels unsteady, this tool becomes essential. It helps you find your next step.

As we begin a new year, ask yourself: What is one thing—within my sphere of Influence—I can tend to today?

Keep Learning

If you’re wanting to move from stuckness to action, here are a few places to begin:

• Listen: A 16-minute podcast episode on the Spheres of Influence
• Join us: Attend an upcoming The Art of Transformational Coaching workshop
• Subscribe: Get tools like this weekly in the Weekly Wisdom Newsletter