The Spheres of Control

Confessions time: I used to be an anxious wreck. I worried about global politics, workers rights, the environment, the economy and the end of civilization as we know it. Even as a kid I would lay awake at night thinking about all the problems plaguing mankind and the planet. I had a lot of concerns.

The control I had over these problems was infinitesimally small and my influence was insignificant. It’s not wrong to be concerned about these things, but it is a huge waste of time and energy.

Your life is mostly time and energy. To waste either is not a recipe for happiness.

The focus give to a problem should be directly proportional to the amount of control and influence we have over that problem.

If you are 200 lbs overweight, and up to date on the latest news about the G20 summit or The World Economic Forum, your focus and attention is inverted.

The more I focused on what I could control (my own actions, habits and choices) the more I felt I had autonomy over my life. This was an empowering realization. Once you start looking at the things you do control in life, you realize there is more than enough to focus on already. There’s almost no time left for the problems outside of your control.

If you’re unhappy with your life, take a quick look at what you are giving your attention. Chances are you can make a few changes. Make a list of the problems that keep coming up in your mind. Evaluate them one by one. Label each. Is this something you have control or influence over or is it something you have little to no influence over?

Pick the most important thing from the list you have control over and do something about it as soon as possible.

Practice defaulting to action. Gain momentum, maximizing the control you have over your own life see how you feel in a few months.

Keep moving friends
- Daniel Otto Spencer Polehn