Things I can Control : A Worksheet for Managing Stress & Anxiety
Our minds use worry as a way to process challenges and think through problems, but it can become overwhelming when we focus on things we cannot change. This is a common source of anxiety and stress especially in today’s fast-paced world.
By learning to distinguish between what you can and cannot control, you can redirect your energy toward actions that actually make a difference, reduce anxiety, and feel more in control of your life.
How the Circles of Control Works
This activity divides situations into three areas:
Things you can control – your choices, actions, and habits.
Things you cannot control – other people’s behaviour, outcomes, or past events.
The in-between factors – things you can influence somewhat but don’t fully determine.
Anxiety often grows when we focus too much on what we cannot control, our anxiety increases, our energy is drained and it makes it harder to take care of ourselves. It can be powerful to distinguish between what we can and cannot control. The worksheet helps bring awareness to all the elements of your situation, helping you to redirect your attention and energy to things you can control
