<p> <span>In this article you will learn the following</span></p><p>-<b data-redactor-tag="b">What happens when you operate from your area of concern or focus on what is beyond your span of influence</b></p><p>-<b data-redactor-tag="b">12 signs which will tell you that you are operating from your area of concern</b></p><p>-<b data-redactor-tag="b">16 things which are not within your control</b></p><p>-<b data-redactor-tag="b">48 Things you can control [only if you choose to pro-actively work on yourself to manage these]</b></p><p>-<b data-redactor-tag="b">50 actions to operate from your most powerful - your area of control AND How to increase your locus of control in your life</b></p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">You can almost always control your inputs</b> [energies, efforts, dedication, continuity, improvisation, persistence, giving your 100% etc.] - <b data-redactor-tag="b">but the most you can do about ultimate outcomes - is only influencing them and cannot guarantee</b>.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Focusing on what is not within your span of control would only create avoidable and unnecessary </b>- helplessness, powerlessness, hopelessness and all negative un-resourceful emotional states.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">And also - it would reduce your natural productivity, effectiveness and may give you the results that you fears most or are trying to avoid</b>.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">The more time and energy you spend on either worrying-over or taking actions on the things you don't have much influence-on or have control-over</b> - the less you would be directing on those crucial big <b data-redactor-tag="b">transformative things and hence not growing</b> <b data-redactor-tag="b">significantly</b>.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Focusing on what we can control needs discipline - especially when you are unsure and venturing into the realm of unknown.</b></p><p>You reduce your stress-levels when you focus on and take actions on what is within your own control.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">When you focus on what you can control - your thoughts empower you and then trigger positive emotions</b>. </p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">In times of extreme emotional turbulence - when nothing seems to be within your control - the best thing to do is - do anything</b> - till you can get a grip on the situation and can see way forward.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Most people [when the going is good for them] - stay positive and are productive</b> - but the moment it becomes tough and difficult - <b data-redactor-tag="b">imagine the worst and themselves as powerless, helpless and resource-less</b>.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Trying to control what is outside of your control will control and will cause loss of opportunity, avoidable stress and many other damages</b>.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">When you are getting hit from multiple directions - most of us tend to slip down to victim and self-pitying mindset</b>.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">Your mind starts ruminating on all the things that aren't working in your favor and start worrying about all the bad things that could happen next</b> - which leads to yourself giving-up on what you could have done.</p><p><b data-redactor-tag="b">12 signs which will tell you that you are operating from your area of concern</b></p> <ul><li>1.You believe that you are at the mercy of outside forces </li> <li>2.Your judgement is clouded and you are confused</li> <li>3.You are wasting your energy by focusing on what is much beyond your current capabilities - and can't be done unless you acquire newer skills, experience and expertize</li> <li>4.You are ignoring what is within your control - even in those areas those are beyond your span of influence and thereby not utilizing and wasting opportunities</li> <li>5.You are reacting to the situations and people </li> <li>6.You are in denial mode and are unable to accept the truth facing you</li> <li>7.You are not taking actions on what is within your area of control</li> <li>8.You often feel that you have little control over your own life </li> <li>9.You believe that individuals have little influence over the events of the world </li> <li>10.You also feel that it is not worth making plans and setting goals - because too many things can happen - which can make all plans go haywire </li> <li>11.You Feel overwhelmed by life - You often feel stuck, adrift or thwarted</li> <li>12.You are Struggling to make choices and decisions in your life</li></ul> <p><b data-redactor-tag="b">16 things which are not within your control</b></p> <ul><li>1.The politicians who get elected [you might have voted for decent person but criminals, corrupts and psychopaths may get elected]</li> <li>2.How the stock market will behave</li> <li>3.Wars</li> <li>4.State and direction of economy </li> <li>5.The weather</li> <li>6.What and how other people behave, react, think, feel and do</li> <li>7.Other people's decisions</li> <li>8.Most of your emotions, feelings, thoughts and sensations etc.</li> <li>9.Your achieving you're the goals you have set for yourself</li> <li>10.How good you feel when doing what you do</li> <li>11.How others perceive your motivations and judge you</li> <li>12.What happens in the future</li> <li>13.What happened in the past</li> <li>14.Inevitable painful losses in life</li> <li>15.Whether or not life gives you what you want</li> <li>16.The inevitability of ageing, illness and injury</li></ul> <p><b data-redactor-tag="b">48 Things you can control [only if you choose to pro-actively work on yourself to manage these]</b></p> <ul><li>1.Your breathing - the way you breath in difficult situation and in tough phases</li> <li>2.Your inner self-talk</li> <li>3.Your gratitude</li> <li>4.Your body language</li> <li>5.Your mental and physical fitness</li> <li>6.Your diet - what you choose to eat and what you avoid</li> <li>7.Type of people you keep in your company</li> <li>8.The healthy boundaries you set around you</li> <li>9.Your ability to say to people and situations</li> <li>10.Your bouncing back from failures and setbacks</li> <li>11.Your taking actions to solve your problems</li> <li>12.Your taking ownership and full accountability for all the decisions and actions and their respective consequences</li> <li>13.Your mental, emotional and physical habits</li> <li>14.Your sleep - have you created a healthy sleeping habits</li> <li>15.Your to-do list - you priorities</li> <li>16.Your learning plan - your efforts in self-development and self-improvement</li> <li>17.Your self-care - How you take care of and look after yourself</li> <li>18.How you manage and respond to your negative emotions & feelings</li> <li>19.Do you give in to impulses</li> <li>20.Do you cut corners or go for sustainable but long route</li> <li>21.Do you focus on short or long term</li> <li>22.How you respond to your thoughts</li> <li>23.How you respond to your sensations</li> <li>24.How you respond to your memories</li> <li>25.How much action you take towards your goals</li> <li>26.How much you focus on - what you do</li> <li>27.What you say and do to influence other people</li> <li>28.Whether or not you take things personally</li> <li>29.Whether or not you are living your life - as per your passions</li> <li>30.Whether you allow others to control you</li> <li>31.How assertive you are</li> <li>32.How confidant you are</li> <li>33.Your being fully comfortable with yourself</li> <li>34.How much you use your values for motivation</li> <li>35.Whether or not you act like the sort of person you want to be</li> <li>36.What you say and do to influence the future</li> <li>37.How you respond to thoughts about the past</li> <li>38.Being self-compassionate when losses occur</li> <li>39.The values you live by - irrespective of what type of life you have</li> <li>40.Your personality</li> <li>41.Your Communication</li> <li>42.Your creativity</li> <li>43.Your abilities and capabilities</li> <li>44.How you deal with people and different situations</li> <li>45.How you spend your time</li> <li>46.With whom you spend your time</li> <li>47.How you utilize and manage your energies</li> <li>48.How you let go of your guilt, shame, regret and failures</li></ul> <p><b data-redactor-tag="b">50 actions to operate from your most powerful - your area of control AND How to increase your locus of control in your life</b></p><p>[Given randomly - most of the single sentence tips have detailed 3000+ do-it-yourself article, blogs and answers in my two websites and my Quora answers]</p> <ul><li>1.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Practice and learn to identify - the choices, options and possibilities are within your span of control and which externals factors not under your power of control</b> - This will help you to focus and direct your energies and efforts onto the options you can actually control and take appropriate actions</li> <li>2.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Take steps in the following areas to increase satisfaction in key areas of your life</b> - How do you feel about your ability to respond to these changes - manageable or unmanageable or overwhelmingly scary </li> <li>I.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Self-care</b> - How you take care of and look after yourself</li> <li>II.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Your Home and Family</b>—where you live and how you live - how much change are you experiencing in this area of your life - minor to major or no change</li> <li>III.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Your most important relationships</b>—your partner, family, friends, and community - what changes you are experiencing in this area of your life - minor to major or no change</li> <li>IV.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Your mental, emotional, physical level of health</b> - how much change are you experiencing in this area of your life - minor to major or no change</li> <li>V.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Your finances</b>—the money you earn and the expenses you have - how much change are you experiencing in this area of your life - minor to major or no change</li> <li>VI.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Your profession, job, career, business</b> - how much change are you experiencing in this area of your life - minor to major or no change</li> <li>3.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Increase your locus of control - Do the following exercise to manage the threats that you might be feeling in all the major changes that are happening in your life right now</b> [it does not matter if these are the ones that have been chosen by you or are those which are forced on you]</li> <li>I.Write down a change you have experienced or are about to experience</li> <li>II.What can you control about the change</li> <li>III.What can you only somewhat control about the change</li> <li>IV.What can't you control about the change</li> <li>V.Pick one area where you want increased stability and control. Which one is it</li> <li>VI.What can you do to increase the stability of this area - What obstacles do you need to overcome - How can you overcome this</li> <li>VII.When can you make this happen? Be specific. Write down the dates that you plan to start and finish</li> <li>VIII.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Think of an ongoing unresolved situation in your life -write a brief outline of the facts and why it feels unresolved for you</b> -what can you control in this situation - make a list - what can't you control in this situation - make a list - ask yourself how can you focus more on the things you can control</li> <li>IX.Determine what you can control - sometimes - all you can control is your effort and your attitude</li> <li><b data-redactor-tag="b">X.</b><b data-redactor-tag="b">Identify your fears - ask yourself what you are afraid will happen -</b> Are expecting a catastrophic outcome - Do you doubt your ability to cope with the resulting situation or failure or the disappointment - <b data-redactor-tag="b">then prepare for the worst case scenario</b></li> <li><b data-redactor-tag="b">XI.</b><b data-redactor-tag="b">Focus on finding solutions through improving your problem-solving and creativity skills</b></li> <li>XII.Start taking responsibility for your decisions, actions and their consequences</li> <li>XIII.Develop your own opinion and practice not to get overly influenced by the opinions of other people</li> <li>XIV.Stop blaming outside forces for your circumstances</li> <li>XV.Train yourself to become aware of your emotional shift from a positive-resourceful state to un-resourceful negative one - ask yourself</li> <li>XVI.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Ask yourself what is causing the anxiety, worry and stress - what is your current priorities</b> and what matters to you most in long term and finally what is within my control and what can i do about it.</li> <li>XVII.Limit the number of errors that can take place by using the principals of 6 sigma</li> <li>XVIII.Establish standards - measure performance - compare performance against standards - take corrective action </li> <li>XIX.Integrate strategy and control with planning - create flexibility - focus on accuracy and timeliness</li> <li>4.Take credit for your successes</li> <li>5.Believe that you can change your situation through your consistent efforts</li> <li>6.Practice to Let go of learned helplessness and victim mentality</li> <li>7.Learn to identify and manage the triggers and stimuli - which triggers negativities in you</li> <li><b data-redactor-tag="b">8.</b><b data-redactor-tag="b">Associate with people selectively - to avoid getting affected by the negativities and evil of people you mix with</b></li> <li>9.Set healthy boundaries with difficult people</li> <li>10.Disentangle yourself from negative interactions</li> <li><b data-redactor-tag="b">11.</b><b data-redactor-tag="b">Learn to handle the pressures and stress by exposing yourself to risks, fears by taking challenges pro-actively</b></li> <li>12.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Surround yourself those people among your friends, family and communities</b> who encourage you to reach your full potential and give you a reality check when you are stuck in negative thinking</li> <li>13.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Position yourself as a learner nurture your curiosity and allow yourself to explore new</b> <b data-redactor-tag="b">ideas</b>, skills, and people by expanding your capacity to learn by adopting a more open, collaborative approach</li> <li>14.<b data-redactor-tag="b">Learn to manage your emotions and beliefs - increase your awareness of how your emotions and beliefs</b> drive your thinking and influence your behavior plus affect your judgment </li> <li>15.Pause and question your situation -Why you are feeling like this - <b data-redactor-tag="b">are you self-pressurizing yourself unnecessarily</b></li> <li>16.Does your beliefs, perceptions and expectations need some recalibrations </li> <li>17.Start by slowing-down your thinking - meditate at a quiet place taking slow and deep breaths</li> <li>18.Start trusting your intuition to give a tremendous boost to your creativity and help us make important decisions effectively</li> <li>19.Only after thinking through - thoroughly - take actions on very important matters</li> <li>20.Create a plan to manage your stress</li> <li>21.Develop powerful visualizations and positive affirmations</li><li>22. Go for your larger than life goals step by step - plan it - believe in it - visualize it see yourself doing it - take actions on it</li></ul><ul><li>23.Break all the big tasks into small elements, components and milestones</li> <li>24.Learn to let go of overthinking</li></ul><div><br></div><p> <a href="#yourrealareaofcontrol, #areaofinfluence, #areaofcontrol, #areaofconcern, #signsyouareoperatingfromyourareaofconcern, #thingswhicharenotwithinyourcontrol, #whatyoucanreallycontrolinlife, #thingsyoucancontrol, #howtooperatefromyouryourareaofcontrol, #howtoincreaseyourlocusofcontrol, #strengtheningyourspanofinfluence, #whathappenswhenyoufocusonwhatisnotwithinyourcontrol, #areyouoperatingfromyourareaofinfluence, #howtoexpandyourlocusofcontrol" title="" class="">#yourrealareaofcontrol, #areaofinfluence, #areaofcontrol, #areaofconcern, #signsyouareoperatingfromyourareaofconcern, #thingswhicharenotwithinyourcontrol, #whatyoucanreallycontrolinlife, #thingsyoucancontrol, #howtooperatefromyouryourareaofcontrol, #howtoincreaseyourlocusofcontrol, #strengtheningyourspanofinfluence, #whathappenswhenyoufocusonwhatisnotwithinyourcontrol, #areyouoperatingfromyourareaofinfluence, #howtoexpandyourlocusofcontrol </a></p>