How to focus your energy
Have you heard of the concept of 'locus of control’? It’s an interesting idea about how much influence we have over what happens in our lives.
People with an internal locus of control tend to see outcomes as linked to their own choices and actions — effort, preparation, persistence. Those with a more external locus of control see results as determined by forces outside their influence — timing, luck, other people, or circumstance.
Neither perspective is entirely right or wrong. Life is a constant interplay between what we can and can’t control.
But focusing on what you can control can help improve your wellbeing day-to-day. Having a clear understanding of your own internal locus of control can reduce stress, build confidence, and improve emotional resilience. When you stop spending energy on things you can’t change — like other people’s opinions or unpredictable outcomes — you free up mental space for what is within reach.
Here are three simple questions that can help you align with your internal locus of control:
What is within my influence right now?
What lies outside it?
Where am I spending most of my energy?
It’s not about ignoring reality — it’s about directing your effort where it will actually make a difference. When you focus on what’s in your hands, you give yourself a greater sense of stability, no matter what’s happening around you.