Sure, we WISH we could control the traffic or a big meeting or the time it takes to run errands, but focusing only on things over which we have control can reduce so much stress. Identifying what's in our “Circle of Influence"(COI) is a concept made popular by Stephen Covey. When you identify the aspects of a situation where you do have influence, you can take action and feel more empowered.
Here are some simple proactive steps to take charge of your COI:
- Draw a big circle with a smaller circle inside.
- Write down the things you CAN control in the inner circle and the things you CANNOT control in the outer circle. (YES: your part of a project, your attitude NO: your boss's feedback, whether or not a meeting goes well)
- Refer to your inner circle daily to reinforce your influence over these things.
- Write down positive actions you can take to address the inner circle
- Stop wasting energy worrying about things in the outer circle.
- Gain momentum as you go.
Soon you should feel relief in the knowledge that you're really doing all that you can. What more can you do than your best?
