Stephen Covey – Circle of Concern vs. Circle of Influence

“People think the world is going insane right now with the problems happening but I think we’re doing just fine.  7 million of us cramped up on this planet….I think we’re going a pretty good job.” – Jim Carey

This is a prime example of not only proactive language, but also the circle of concern which is the activity that I’ll be talking about out of Stephen Covey’s book.

Look at how you focus your time an energy.  Really….take a look.  Are you focusing on things that you have no control over? Or things you can control?

We have a wide range of problems: health, children, problems at work, debt, nuclear war, etc.  There are some things that we can control and others that are way out of our control. We can separate from these particular things in which we have no particular or emotional involvement by creating a “Circle of Concern.”

“As we look at those things within our Circle of Concern, it becomes apparent that there are some things over which we have no real control and others that we can do something about.” Stephen Covey.

A lot of foreigners residing in Thailand, for instance, complain heavily about just about everything in Thailand; from the cat down the road, to one of the biggest shopping centers in the heart of Bangkok.  None of these things in which they have control over.  Get the picture?

Proactive people, on the other hand, focus their energy on the Circle of Influence.  Things they can actually do something about.

Reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern.  They focus soon the weakness 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 that focus, combined with everything else, causes their Circle of Influence to shrink.

Stephen Covey said, “Be a light, not a judge.  Be a model, not a critic.”

For the next week, see where you fit in. See if you can control the energy that you’re emanating. See if you’re reactive vs. proactive.  Listen to your language.

Podcast – https://www.spreaker.com/episode/10222857