PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
From:www.verywell.com/develop-an-internal-locus-of-control-3144943
Develop An Internal
Locus of Control
How To Take Control of Your Life
By Elizabeth Scott, MS, Updated April 15, 2017
Research has shown that those with an internal locus
of control - that is, they feel that they control their
own destiny, rather than their fate being largely de-
termined by external forces - tend to be happier, less
depressed, and less stressed. It is true that many of
the stressors we face in life are largely beyond our
control, though we can still cope with these things
by adjusting how we think about things, working on
our personal resilience, and focusing on the things we
can control.
Other times, we either do have control over what we
face, or we have more control than we realise. When
we recognise what we can control, we feel more em-
powered, so having a realistic view of life and an in-
ternal locus of control can help us feel less stressed
and more empowered in many situations in life. For-
tunately, while some factors are inborn, if your locus
of control isn't as 'internal' as you'd like it to be, there
are things you can do to change your locus of control
and empower yourself. Here's a process to practice:
Be Aware That You Have A Choice.
When you realise that you always have choice to
change your situation (even if this change isn't your
first choice, or is merely a change in how you look
at things), it can be liberating and empowering. It is
true that when you are experiencing extreme stress or
mental health issues, you may not be able to simply
choose to have your challenges evaporate, but you
can choose the ways in which you find help, and you
can choose what you do to cope.
Even if you don’t like the choices available at the mo-
ment, even if the only change you can make is in your
attitude, you always have some choices.
Review Your Options.
When you feel trapped, make a list of all possible
courses of action. Just brainstorm and write things
down without evaluating them first, so you become
more able to tap your creativity.
This list can be a growing document, not something
that you have to come up with in seconds, but it
can be helpful in reminding you of your choices and
keeping you from feeling trapped. It can remind you
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of what you can control, even when there are many
things that are set.
Ask For Ideas.
You may want to also brainstorm with a friend to get
more ideas that you may not have initially considered.
Don’t shoot down these ideas right away, either; just
write them down. Sometimes our loved ones have
great ideas or can see options that we can't see when
we are coming from a stressed or trapped mindset.