I take most advice from self-help authors with a grain of salt, but great ideas are great ideas, and one of them is Stephen Covey’s thoughts about where people should spend their time and energy.
I have a large sphere of concerns: global warming, nuclear war, the dehumanization of social media, the irreversible failure of the American Experiment, healthcare costs, …
But I only have a small area of actual influence: my talks with immediate family and friends, my vote as a citizen, my voice as a writer, my service on one or two small boards, and my membership in two or three professional organizations.
So, what I strive to do is focus my time on the areas in which I have concerns and influence.
I certainly don’t want to spend my resources on areas in which I don’t care about, and putting energy towards areas I am concerned about but which I have only limited influence is equally foolish (and, for the most part, feels like hitting my head against a brick wall).
Two other points. First, If I chose to try to change one of the areas of concern outside of my area of influence, I would first do the very difficult work of expanding my circle of influence.
And second—and most important point of all—I do not let others choose my area of concern.