Have you ever felt stressed, overwhelmed, or burnt-out during the holiday season? You’re not alone.
The cost of everything from toys to food continues to rise. The postal workers' strike may leave you wondering if your holiday cards will reach your friends out West on time. Maybe you feel pressured to find the right gift for that someone in your life. Or you’re worried about whether two family members will be able to get along at this year’s holiday dinner.
The North Grove’s Adult Programming team held a special program about the Holiday Circle of Control recently and we discussed how many of the things that we worry about around the holidays are simply out of our control.
What is a Circle of Control?
The Circle of Control concept created by Stephen Covey is a visual representation of the things we can and cannot control in our lives. It allows us to shift our focus to the things in life that we have control over, rather than feeling stuck trying to change things that we cannot control.
Learning to shift our focus to the things we can control, in any situation, can lead to greater productivity, success, and happiness.
To help alleviate stress during the holiday season, try the following steps:
Identify your worries: write down everything that’s been on your mind lately.
Categorize: sort your worries into two circles. The outer circle contains the things you have no influence or control over. The inner circle is filled with the things that you can control.
Focus on the inner circle: redirect your focus to the things that you can control.
Let go of the things in the outer circle: acknowledge that some things are beyond your control and remind yourself that it’s okay to let them go.
Here is an example of the circles that we shared with North Grove program participants. Yours may look different, but the concept of the inner and outer circles remains.
Whatever this holiday season looks like for you, do your best to focus on the things you can control, and let go of the rest. Happy Holidays!
The North Grove’s Adult Programs aim to give people the tools they need to thrive – through respite-based programs, parenting education, and capacity building programs. Program topics change regularly and seasonally, following the changes in the world around us.
We would like to credit https://www.selfloverainbow.com/holiday-circle-of-control/ for much of the inspiration and content for this special program.