The Circle of Concern and Circle of Control
Life is filled with influences, both internal and external, that shape our thoughts, emotions, and decisions. Some of these influences come from our past, others from our current environment, and still others from broader societal or global forces. While these influences can feel overwhelming at times, the Circle of Concern and Circle of Control framework offers a simple yet powerful way to sort through them and focus your energy where it matters most.
Understanding the Two Circles
The Circle of Concern includes everything that occupies your mind—issues you care about, worry over, or feel impacted by. This can range from personal challenges, like a difficult relationship, to broader concerns, like climate change or economic instability. The Circle of Control, on the other hand, represents the subset of these concerns that you can take meaningful action on. These are the things directly within your power to influence, such as your thoughts, actions, habits, and responses to external events.
Examples of the Circle of Concern
These are things that you care about but cannot directly change or control.
- Global Issues: Climate change, political instability, natural disasters.
- Other People’s Actions: Decisions made by friends, family, colleagues, or strangers.
- Societal Expectations: Cultural norms, stereotypes, societal pressures.
- Past Events: Mistakes or traumas from the past that cannot be undone.
- Future Uncertainties: Worrying about what might happen, such as job security or health risks.
- Media and News: Stories and events you feel strongly about but cannot influence directly.
Examples of the Circle of Control
These are things you can take action on or influence in your life.
- Your Actions: How you spend your time, how you treat others, the effort you put into tasks.
- Your Attitude: Choosing optimism, practicing gratitude, or adopting a growth mindset.
- Your Habits: Developing routines for self-care, exercise, or learning.
- Your Responses: How you react to criticism, setbacks, or stressful situations.
- Your Goals: Setting realistic, value-aligned goals and taking steps toward achieving them.
- Boundaries: Saying no to protect your time and energy or limiting exposure to toxic influences.
The goal is not to dismiss concerns outside your control but to recognize where you can act effectively—and to let go of the stress and frustration that can come from focusing too much on what you cannot change.
Why This Matters
When external influences feel overwhelming, it’s easy to get stuck in the Circle of Concern, investing energy in things beyond your control. This can lead to feelings of helplessness or frustration. By redirecting your focus to the Circle of Control, you reclaim your agency and strengthen your ability to make meaningful progress.
For example:
- Instead of worrying endlessly about what others think of you (Circle of Concern), you can focus on showing up authentically and aligning your actions with your values (Circle of Control).
- Instead of feeling powerless about global events, you might choose to support causes that matter to you or reduce your personal impact in small but meaningful ways.
More examples
- Concern: Worrying about whether someone likes you.
Control: Showing kindness and authenticity in your interactions. - Concern: Stressing over a global economic downturn.
Control: Managing your personal budget and saving where possible. - Concern: Feeling powerless about climate change.
Control: Reducing your carbon footprint by recycling, conserving energy, or supporting eco-friendly initiatives. - Concern: Regretting a missed opportunity in the past.
Control: Learning from the experience and applying the lesson to future decisions. - Concern: Worrying about a loved one’s health.
Control: Offering emotional support and making time to connect with them.
Applying the Framework to Your Influences
In the Soulful Path to Life Purpose programme, we reflect on the various influences that have shaped our lives—family, culture, past experiences, societal expectations, and more. The Circle of Concern and Circle of Control offers a lens to evaluate these influences and decide how to respond to them.
- Identify Your Concerns
Take a moment to list the influences in your life that currently feel significant. Which ones occupy your thoughts the most? - Categorize Them
For each influence, ask yourself:- Is this something I can change or take meaningful action on? (Circle of Control)
- Or is this something I care about but have no direct power over? (Circle of Concern)
- Shift Your Focus
For concerns in the Circle of Control, identify specific actions you can take to address or engage with them. For those in the Circle of Concern, practice letting go of the need to control and redirect your energy toward what you can influence.
Reflection Questions
- What are the key influences in your life that feel outside your control? How do they affect you?
- Which influences can you take action on, and what steps might you take?
- How might shifting your focus to your Circle of Control change the way you approach your life?
Bringing It Together
Sorting your influences into these two circles isn’t about ignoring the bigger picture. It’s about being strategic with your energy and attention, empowering yourself to focus on what you can change while practicing acceptance for what you cannot.
Do you believe you have agency in your life? Take a locus of control test here to find out