Determine Your Locus of Control

There is a large body of psychological literature that revolves around the concept of Locus of Control Theory. In more than 50 years of research, psychologists have determined that your Locus of Control is the determining factor of your happiness or unhappiness in life. Here is why.

A person with an internal locus of control is a person who feels that he or she is in complete control of his or her life. This person feels strong, confident and powerful. He or she is generally optimistic and positive. He or she feels terrific about him or herself and feels very much in charge of his or her destiny.

On the other hand, a person with an external locus of control is a person who feels controlled by external factors, by their boss, their bills, their marriage, their childhood problems and their current situation. They feel out of control and as a result, they feel weak, angry, fearful, negative, hostile and dis-empowered.

The good news is that there is a direct relationship between the amount of responsibility you accept and the amount of control you feel. The more you say, I am responsible! the more of an internal locus of control you develop within yourself, and the more powerful and confident you feel.

The Golden Triangle

There is also a direct relationship between responsibility and happiness. The more responsibility you accept, the happier you become. It seems that all three responsibility, control and happiness- go together.

The more responsibility you accept, the greater amount of control you feel you have. The greater amount of control you feel you have, the happier and more confident you become. When you feel positive and in control of your life, you will set bigger and more challenging goals for yourself. You will also have the drive and determination to achieve them. You will feel as if you hold your life in your own hands, and that you can make it into whatever you decide to do.

It Is In Your Hands

The starting point of goal setting is for you to realize that you have virtually unlimited potential to be, have or do anything you really want in life, if you simply want it badly enough, and are willing to work long enough and hard enough to achieve it.

The second part of goal setting is for you to accept complete responsibility for your life, and for everything that happens to you, with no blaming and no excuses.

With these two concepts clearly in mind, that you have unlimited potential and that you are completely responsible, you are now ready to move to the next step, which is to begin designing your ideal future.

Take Charge of Your Life:

1. Identify your biggest problem or source of negativity in life today. In what ways are you responsible for this situation?

2. See yourself as the President of your own company. How would you act differently if you owned 100% of the shares?

3. Resolve today to stop blaming anyone else for anything and instead accept complete responsibility in every area of your life. What actions should you be taking?

4. Stop making excuses and start making progress. Imagine that your favorite excuses have no basis in fact, and act accordingly.

5. See yourself as the primary creative force in your own life. You are where you are and what you are because of your own choices and decisions. What should you change?

6. Resolve today to forgive anyone who has ever hurt you in any way. Let it go. Refuse to discuss it again. Instead, get so busy working on something that is important to you that you don’t have time to think about it again.

HOME WORK:

At this point in our “GOAL BUSTING” series you should already have your WHITEBOARD purchased. Hang it on the wall in eye site of your work station. Consult with your support team to it’s design, deadline dates and “HOW MANY of EACH (consultant/customer) you need to BUST YOUR next goal.

To Your Success,

Steve LuxenbergSteve Luxenberg

Founder

True Team Inc.






Filed under: Team Training

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