Like a lot of people, I’ve been pretty shocked by many of the events in 2016. And some people are predicting more of the same in 2017. As the pop star James Blunt said on his Twitter feed a few weeks ago: “If you thought 2016 was bad - I’m releasing an album in 2017” :-)

Just to add to our joys, the happy people at Bloomberg have created their ‘Pessimist’s Guide to 2017’ which has a long list of reasons not to be cheerful this year (don’t bother reading it if you need a lift. There aren’t many laughs in it.)

But the world is made up of individuals and, if you just think about a few key ones who have altered history, it’s clear that just one person can rock the world, even when the age seems to be against them.

So how can we deal with what may or may not be this year?

I was impressed by what Princess Anne said of her parents in 'The Queen at 90’ documentary on the BBC recently. She said that part of their long and successful lives was a willingness to adjust to changing circumstances. Things changed around them each year and they adjusted accordingly.

That flexibility, the ability to move as things seem to change and shift around us, is something we can all have if we’re willing.

Not that we should ‘adjust’ our fundamental principles. Not at all. In fact I’ve found that as things shift around us that’s when we need to go deeper into what is real and fundamental to life. Living more of the simple, humane qualities that we all love in others has a quiet, seismic effect on those around us and, therefore, on the world. 

Indeed, the useful thing about tough times - if we respond to them well - is that they can make us grow and succeed in a way we wouldn’t have imagined possible before.

My friend, the poet Lemn Sissay, who grew up in various children’s homes and foster care, set up Christmas day parties around the UK for young people who have recently left care. He knew how miserable the day could be for them and decided to meet that need. You can see more about it here.