As a parent, you’ve likely got a lot on your plate. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the things that are out of your control and to worry about the future. But what if you could reclaim power over your life without changing any of your circumstances?
It’s possible—through shifting your focus from the “circle of concern” to the “circle of influence.”
Let’s break down these two concepts and how they can help you become more empowered and intentional with how you approach life as a parent in changing times.
The Circle of Concern
The circle of concern is comprised of all the things that we tend to worry about but have no control over—the health, safety, and well-being of our children; the current state (and future) of education; economic uncertainty; and so on. Although it might seem like worrying about these issues is productive, it does nothing but drains our energy and distract us from taking action on things that are actually within our control.
The Circle of Influence
The circle of influence consists only of those areas which we have some degree of control over. For parents, this could include things like setting boundaries around screen time, creating routines for getting homework done, fostering meaningful relationships with teachers, and living our values. Or developing healthy habits for yourself like regular exercise, sleep, or self-care practices. Wherever there is an opportunity for us to take action—even if it feels small—that is within our circle of influence.
Reclaiming Power
By focusing on what we can do instead of worrying about what we cannot do, we open ourselves up to feeling more empowered in our lives as parents. Instead of being consumed by anxiety over the ever-changing landscape around us, we can create space to take ownership of our lives in meaningful ways that make us feel good about ourselves as parents and people. This shift in focus helps restore the balance between work and home life while enabling us to face whatever comes next with courage and resilience.
Make the Shift
As parents, it’s natural to be concerned about factors beyond our control—but worrying won’t do anything but drain our energy reserves even further. By shifting our focus from the “circle of concern” to the “circle of influence,” we can reclaim power over our lives without changing any circumstances around us at all. It’s like magic!
Taking action on things within our control not only makes us feel more empowered but also restores the balance between work and home life so that no matter what comes next, we’ll be ready for it with courage and resilience.
