A mentor of mine sketched out something like this:
Problems abound – but you can’t do something about some of them. We have agency, so make choices about what we’re doing.
A massive amount of human energy is wasted in the lower left quadrant. Endless whining, complaining, bitter recriminations about problems we can’t do anything about. Dwelling here amplifies anxiety. It makes for great social media action because plenty of people will happily be a cry-baby with you.
Trying to do something about a problem that you cannot do anything about wastes your life. (Note: there are grand problem spaces where people have ideas about solutions and are trying to solve them. That’s not a waste. That’s how great leaps of progress happen.)
Once you realize you can’t do something about a problem (at least not now), don’t waste even 2 more seconds in those lower two quadrants.
The challenge in the upper left quadrant is the wisdom and intelligence to distinguish priority-setting from procrastination and sheer laziness.
Invest your best energies in the upper right quadrant. That’s the leadership path to success.
