Focus: The Power of Your Circle of Concern & Circle of Influence

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by everything going on around you? From world events to personal pressures, it’s easy to get stuck worrying about things we can’t change. The key to breaking free from this cycle and achieving our goals lies in where we focus our time, energy, and attention.

This blog post is designed to help you reclaim your focus, boost your sense of control, and start creating the results you want—by harnessing the power of your Circle of Influence.

What Are the Circles of Concern & Influence?

We all have a wide range of concerns—our families, our health, the economy, global conflict, the environment, work stress, and more. These all fall into what’s known as the Circle of Concern. These are the things we care about, think about, and even worry about, but many of them are outside of our control.

Now, within that larger circle lies a smaller, more powerful one: the Circle of Influence. These are the things you can actually do something about—your habits, your mindset, your relationships, your health choices, how you show up at work, and so on.

“Whether you know it or not, your life is carefully designed by you.”

— Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

When we learn to distinguish between these two circles and deliberately choose to focus on our Circle of Influence, we shift from feeling powerless to empowered.

Proactive vs Reactive: Which One Are You?

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey introduces two types of people:

✅ Proactive People:

• Focus their energy on the Circle of Influence.

• Choose their responses intentionally.

• Create change by taking action on what they can control.

• As a result, their influence grows.

❌ Reactive People:

• Spend most of their time in the Circle of Concern.

• Dwell on what’s outside their control (like politics, gossip, or the past).

• Feel stuck, helpless, and often blame external factors.

• Their influence shrinks.

When you focus on things you cannot control, you drain your energy and diminish your ability to make a difference.

But the good news is: you can choose which type of person you want to be. Every situation offers a new opportunity to respond differently and create better outcomes.

The Key to Focus and Fulfillment

By identifying where you’re focusing your attention—and deliberately shifting that focus to where you can make a difference—you gain clarity, confidence, and momentum.

Here’s how to start:

1. Use the below Circle of Concern / Circle of Influence Template as a guide (👇)

2. Write down everything you’re currently worried about in the Circle of Concern.

3. Now look closely: What can you do something about?

4. Move those things into the Circle of Influence.

5. Put the completed template somewhere visible—your fridge, your desk, or your journal.

This simple yet powerful visual reminder helps you stay focused on your lane and let go of what’s dragging your energy down.

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