This wonderful and practical circle of control worksheet will help your students to identify the things they can and can’t control. You can use these prompts to think more about your Circle of Control and how to use it to manage stress and anxiety.
This worksheet will help us understand and manage our reactions to various situations, especially those that cause distress.
What is the Circle of Control Worksheet?
Imagine three concentric circles, like a target board. Each circle represents a different level of control we have over situations or events in our lives.
- Outer Ring – Things We Can’t Control: Here, you’ll write down things that are entirely out of your control. For example, the weather, other people’s opinions, or global events.
- Middle Ring – Things We Can Influence: These are situations where we might have some say, but we don’t have full control. Think about influencing a group decision or giving advice to a friend. While you can offer your perspective or guidance, the final outcome isn’t entirely in your hands.
- Inner Ring – Things We Can Control: This is the center of the target, where you have the most power. Here, you’ll jot down things that are entirely within your control, such as your reactions, your effort in a task, or your attitude.
Why is this Worksheet Important?
When we face distressing situations, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. However, by using this worksheet, we can categorize our concerns based on our level of control over them. This helps in two main ways:
- Clarity and Perspective: By visually separating our concerns, we can see that not everything is within our control, and that’s okay. It allows us to focus our energy on things that we can change or influence.
- Stress Management: By recognizing what’s beyond our control, we can learn to let go of unnecessary stress. For things we can influence or control, we can strategize ways to handle them effectively.
