The world feels heavy, unbelievable, out of order. And many people carry that heaviness with them. Just yesterday I talked with a woman at my gym who thinks we are doomed. I tried to speak of hope, but she had already decided things can only get worse. She—and others I’ve spoken to recently —wear that resigned, almost defeated look when the topic comes up.

And yet, I think of a climbing friend who is recovering from surgery. His body is not healing as quickly as he hoped, so he is unable to join me on my trips. But he found a clever way to keep his spirits up: he books campsites, even flights to climbing destinations months out—dates when he imagines himself active again. It’s a small act, but it gives him something to look forward to and be excited about. He knows the future is uncertain, but he has turned a light on for himself at the end of a long tunnel.

You may have heard of the Circles of Control, a concept introduced by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He describes three concentric circles: the Circle of Concern (everything we care about but cannot control—wars, politics, the weather), the Circle of Influence (things we can affect but not fully control—our workplace, our community, our relationships), and the Circle of Control (the center, where our thoughts, actions, mindset, and routines live).

I encourage you to think about a few things you’re worrying about right now—list them on your computer or a sticky note, and then place them in the circle where they belong (you can use this picture). If you’re like the woman I met at the gym, many of your notes may land in the Circle of Concern. The challenge is to notice how much energy gets tied up there, with no return. Worrying about wars, politics, or the economy doesn’t change them—it only drains us.

The idea is to move as many notes as possible inward—first into the Circle of Influence, where you can affect outcomes, and even better, into the innermost Circle of Control, where your energy has the greatest impact. My climbing friend has figured out how to do this with something seemingly uncontrollable: his recovery. Instead of dwelling in frustration, he chose to focus on what he can control—his outlook, his plans, and the hope of future adventures.

Time spent in the Circle of Concern is unproductive. Energy invested in the Circle of Control builds strength, steadiness, and resilience.  Clarity comes when we focus inward, on our center, on what we can shape.

Writing is a way of doing exactly that. It takes our focus off the outside world—with all its distractions and noise—and brings it inward, to what we know, what we feel, and who we are. Journaling is a powerful way to open the heart and gain clarity on what we can do.

That’s why we gather each month—and why we call our workshop Heart on Paper. Together, we write to reflect and to discover new insights. Our next workshop is October 10, and Laura and I would love to see you there.

Warmly,
Janine