Jeff’s Journal
By Jeff Whitaker
Call it being anxious, discontent, on edge, fearful, hopeless or uncertain. However you describe it, if you’re like me, you see it all around you. I talk with a lot of people every week in my line of work and I hear it from almost everyone. People are tired of it all; lockdowns, masks, shutdowns, politics, unrest. You name it. It goes without saying (but I’m saying it), this past year brought with it a whirlwind of challenges, struggles, adjustments and changes. To be honest, for some 2020 brought with it much needed change and actually was a good year in many respects. But for the vast majority of us, the anxiety and stress, the day to day not knowing, sickness, in some cases death brought challenges that stretched our abilities to cope beyond what we thought we could handle. While we all had a universal feeling of relief when 2020 passed, much of the impact of last year still lingers into 2021.
If there is one concept I could boil it all down to it would be this. There is a feeling that so much of what is happening around us is out of our control. And let’s face it, who doesn’t want to be in control. As Americans we are used to making our own decisions (for better or worse) that impact our daily lives. We like to come and go as we please. We take for granted that we, not our government or some group or individual, decides when we work, if we work, where we work. Or decides where we can eat, how we can eat, where we can shop and a thousand other decisions.
So, as we move into this new year, what does all of this mean? Are we indefinitely paralyzed in a constant state of waiting and wondering and anxiousness? I’m challenging us all with this. Let’s not dwell on the things we can’t change, but rather on things we can. Let’s not constantly think about what we can’t achieve, but what we can. I look around me and see so many people in need, so many issues that need to be addressed and problems that need to be solved. It can be overwhelming to say the least.
So, at a time where so much is out of our control, let’s focus on the one thing that we can control; ourselves. Recently, the pastor of our church talked about the concept of revival and how it starts with an individual not a group or organization. That principle applies to just about every aspect of our lives. You want to see change? You want to make an impact? Work on yourself first. If you are married, you are responsible TO your spouse and if you have children you are responsible TO your children, but the number one person you are responsible FOR is YOU! Make no mistake. It takes effort. Ask any leader and if they are honest he or she will tell you that the hardest person in the world to lead is themselves. It starts with each one of us making a commitment to be the change we want to see. January is always the traditional time to set goals for the year ahead. Start with a number one goal of setting yourself on the path to improvement and growth and watch your progress and achievement leak into those around you. I’ll build on this concept in my future journal entries. But my challenge to you and me today is to take some time to really think through how we want this year to look when we look back in December of this year. There are things all around us that we have little or no control over, but there are so many other things we can control. Start with you as you move into this new year.
Jeff Whitaker is a veteran broadcaster here in South Jersey.. He now draws on his experience and training to work with companies and individuals to develop effective storytelling, communications and leadership skills. Find free resources and ways Jeff can work with you at jeffwhitaker.com
