09/04/2021
Too often, our attention is given to things that are out of our control. Whether we are caught up in another's actions, the impact of a negative potential diagnosis, or uncertain about the prospects of our travel plans in the current circumstances, these events fall completely out of our control. Yet, they are the ones we are most often concerned with.
The Circles of Control Model (Covey, 1989) depicted above shows the three different areas we pay attention to. This model was initially created to distinguish between proactive people (those who focus on what they can do and can influence) and reactive people (those who focus on things beyond their control).
A proactive focus, or focus on the circle of control, will enable you to gain more autonomy over your life. By focusing on things in your control, you choose to dedicate your energy to something you can change and improve. The more focus you put on the circle of control, the bigger it grows and the less room there is for focus on things that are out of your control.
The circle of influence falls between the circle of control and the circle of concern and mainly refers to things that we have some control over and are relevant to us. For example, the behavior of a close friend is not necessarily in your direct control, but you have the power to influence their behavior by supporting and advising your friend. This circle inevitably takes up space in your attention bank. However, it should also not dominate your energy.
The circle of concern possesses things entirely out of our control, so we can only react to these events. Your time and energy will be wasted reacting to issues that you cannot control, making you feel helpless and powerless.
If you noticed that you sometimes pay too much attention to the events in the circle of concern, try to directly engage with the items in the circle of control. The more energy that is directed to the things you are in charge of, the more likely your life will align with your internalized goals and values.
Do you agree that most of your attention should be given to the circle of control? Let us know in the comments below!
