Are You in Control?

This exercise will help you answer that question.

Step 1: Write down each of your five primary emotions. What emotions do you experience most in your average day? If you need help with this step, click here to see the feelings wheel.

Step 2: Below each emotion, write down the primary driver of each emotion. Example: if anger is a primary emotion, what makes you angry?

Now, with your top five primary drivers and emotional drivers documented, circle the drivers that are EXTERNAL. By external, ask yourself whether these items are within your control, or within yourself.

Lastly, add up the total number of drivers you’ve listed. Now, calculate what percentage of them are internal, within your control.

If your external drivers are greater than 50% of your total drivers, it may explain why it is that you feel out of control at times… it is because you are out of control. You are being driven by external forces and need to begin examing how you could possibly lessen external drivers and expand internal drivers.