Stop Wasting Time on Political Outrage. Expand Your “Circle of Influence” Today
Picture this: You’re grabbing breakfast at a fast-food place. In the corner sits “that” table—six regulars discussing the world’s problems. They critique their team’s coach, suggest better plays, and talk about everything from education to space exploration. Meanwhile, their cars barely run, they struggle financially, and others just smile and nod. Welcome to the “Circle of Concern.”
Our lives contain two distinct circles. Stephen R. Covey introduced the Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence in his 1989 book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This concept appears in “Habit 1: Be Proactive.” Covey explains that effective people focus on what they can control rather than worrying about things beyond their reach.
Covey’s model is simple yet powerful. We all have a large “Circle of Concern” with everything we care about—from health to global conflicts. Inside this sits a smaller “Circle of Influence” containing what we can actually affect through our actions. The key to effective living? Focus your energy on your Circle of Influence instead of obsessing over concerns where you lack control.
Politics, the Circles, and Your Time
In our divided America, we’re caught in a cycle of outrage and frustration. We scroll through divisive social media, watch polarizing news, and argue politics with family members.
But we forget one crucial truth: our time is finite. Every moment spent fretting over matters beyond our control is lost forever—time we could’ve used to create meaningful change where we can make a difference.
As we shake our heads at those opinionated regulars in the fast-food corner, we must be careful. Without vigilance, we can become them surprisingly quickly.
The Circle of Concern in American Politics
Our political “Circle of Concern” is large:
- National election outcomes
- Supreme Court decisions
- Media bias and polarization
- Political figures’ behavior
- Social media echo chambers
- Global political developments
These concerns legitimately affect our country’s direction. But can we influence them on a large scale?
The Wisdom of Focus
Which “circle” has your focus?
Here’s Covey’s genius: If we fixate on our “Circle of Concern,” our “Circle of Influence” shrinks. We become less effective even where we could make a difference. We feel increasingly victimized by circumstances.
But when we focus on our “Circle of Influence,” that circle expands.
Does this make sense? When we spend time on things we can affect, people see us delivering on promises. They see us as improving lives.
We earn bigger roles. Our influence grows. Eventually, issues that once belonged only to our “Circle of Concern” enter our “Circle of Influence.”
The Circle of Influence: Where Real Change Happens
Within our Circle of Influence regarding political division, we can take meaningful action:
- Vote. Vote in local, state, and national elections. When you vote, you matter.
- Have respectful conversations across the political aisle. You don’t have to be the loudest voice. Truth often whispers…but it continues to whisper even when the loudest voices fall silent.
- Support community initiatives that unite diverse groups. We are better together. We need perspectives and backgrounds.
- Learn from diverse media sources. The last thing we need is an echo chamber.
- Lend your talents to worthy causes. We can all play a role. Play from your strengths. Find a place where those strengths make a difference.
- Teach children critical thinking and empathy. They are our hope for the future.
- Be thoughtful about your social media contributions. It can be very time-consuming. Focus your energies on meaningful discussions with open-minded people.
- Start your own platform using your unique strengths. If you don’t like standing in line, start your own line.
Time: Our Most Precious Resource
Every hour spent raging about a provocative tweet is an hour not spent mentoring a young person. Every evening consumed by outrage is time not invested in building skills that might transform your neighborhood.
As Covey wrote: “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” If healing division and creating positive change truly matter to you, allocate your finite time accordingly.
A Path Forward
In our divided America, adopting the Circle of Influence mindset isn’t about disengaging from important issues. It’s about engaging where we can make a difference. Sometimes, it’s on a small level. But done well, that small level grows. Our Circle of Influence expands to a larger level.
By shifting focus from our vast Circle of Concern to our manageable Circle of Influence, we become more effective and happier. Research consistently shows that agency and purpose boost psychological health, while helplessness and anger harm it.
This shift creates a positive cycle. As we focus on constructive action within our Circle of Influence, we inspire others to do the same. These ripples of influence can gradually transform the broader concerns that once seemed overwhelming.
In a nation desperate for healing, this may be our wisest path forward: millions of Americans, each focusing on what they can genuinely change, creating an impact far greater than endless cycles of outrage ever could.
“The Serenity Prayer” by American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr says it well:
“God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.”
Our time is indeed our most precious resource. How will you invest yours today?
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