Understanding the Locus of Control

To understand the locus of control, one needs to understand the difference between the circle of concern and the circle of influence.

The circle of concern entails those things you don’t have control over, i.e. you do not have the ability/power to do anything about it, or to change it. However, you still control the way you feel about it. The things you do have control over fall under the circle of influence.

The proactive person focuses on the circle of influence, thereby increasing his/her effectiveness and impact, and as such functioning from an internal Locus of Control.

As a person, you are continuously looking at ways of expanding your Circle of Influence and cascade issues that fall in the circle of concern to the appropriate people who can do something about it.

Reactive people, on the other hand, focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern, thus acting with an external locus of control. They focus on the weaknesses of other people, the problems in the environment and circumstances over which they have no control. Their focus results in blaming and accusing attitudes, reactive language, and increased feelings of victimization.

The negative energy generated by such a focus, combined with neglect in areas they could do something about, causes their Circle of Influence to shrink.

The choice of acting from your circle of control or influence is yours.

There is only one present moment in time: RIGHT NOW!

We tend to rob ourselves from being powerful; being a victim in life as opposed to be a victor in life. Change the way in which you condition your brain:

Techniques to empower your thinking:

• Positive self-talk
• Changing posture
• Failure is an opportunity to learn
• Make a mental movie
• Praise yourself