"I will take the Ring, though I do not know the way."

There’s a powerful moment in The Lord of the Rings when Frodo steps forward, against all odds, to carry the burden of the Ring. He doesn’t know how he’ll succeed. He has no guarantee he’ll survive. But he takes that first step, and it changes everything.

The world feels overwhelming right now—wars, political tension, economic struggles. It’s easy to feel like Frodo, staring at a monumental challenge and wondering, “What can I possibly do?”

Here’s the truth: like Frodo, your small actions can have a ripple effect. In fact, they’re more powerful than you think.

We often fall into two traps when faced with overwhelming challenges:

1. Avoidance – Pretending it’s not happening, unplugging completely from the news or issues. While boundaries are important, disengaging entirely can leave the world’s problems unchecked.
2. Outrage – Getting sucked into a constant cycle of anger and frustration. Outrage culture thrives on this, draining your energy without providing solutions.

But there’s a better way: focus on what you can control.

Here’s how:

• Take one small step. Do one good deed today, even if it feels insignificant. Small acts of kindness build up in powerful ways.
• Turn outrage into action. Instead of letting frustration drain you, channel it into creating something positive. Write, volunteer, or simply offer encouragement to someone in need.
• Find hope in the small things. Just as Frodo and Sam remind us, even the smallest people can make the biggest difference.

The fate of Middle-earth didn’t rest on the mighty armies of men, elves, or dwarves. It rested on two small hobbits who took one step at a time, fueled by hope.

What’s one small thing you can do today to bring a little more light into the world?