038: Locus of Control

Explicit content warning

09/16/20 • 9 min

The Motivation Movement | Inspirational Quotes, Daily Advice, Lifestyle Design, Personal Development

This is one of those concepts that once explained, most people innately understand, but they would not know the meaning just by hearing the phrase, locus of control. I sure as hell did not know what the hell it meant until I started researching it more in-depth.

When faced with obstacles in life, do you feel that you have power over the situation?

Or, do you believe that you are at the mercy of external forces?

As the world around you changes, you can either ascribe the positives and negatives to factors you have control over or pin them on happenings outside of your influence.

"Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces." - Og Mandino

The fault-finding component of this quote struck me most: "No brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business."

It’s SO easy to blame your shortcomings on external forces.

People with internal control orientation often display the following characteristics:

(1) they take responsibility for their actions

(2) they’re less influenced by the opinion of others

(3) feel confident in the face of adversity

(4) usually have a strong sense of self

On the other hand, people with external control orientation typically:

(1) feel hopeless or powerless in the face of adversity

(2) don’t believe they can change their situation or make a difference

(3) credit luck or chance for any successes.

Click to view: show page on Awesound

When faced with obstacles in life, do you feel that you have power over the situation?

Or, do you believe that you are at the mercy of external forces?

As the world around you changes, you can either ascribe the positives and negatives to factors you have control over or pin them on happenings outside of your influence.

The fault-finding component of this quote struck me most: "No brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business."

It’s SO easy to blame your shortcomings on external forces.

People with internal control orientation often display the following characteristics:

(1) they take responsibility for their actions

(2) they’re less influenced by the opinion of others

(3) feel confident in the face of adversity

(4) usually have a strong sense of self

On the other hand, people with external control orientation typically:

(1) feel hopeless or powerless in the face of adversity

(2) don’t believe they can change their situation or make a difference

(3) credit luck or chance for any successes.

Click to view: show page on Awesound

Previous Episode

037: Positive Affirmations Are NOT BS!

Positive affirmations are easily digestible, simple phrases, or statements that challenge negative internal dialogue. People utilize positive affirmations to motivate themselves, encourage growth, and boost self-esteem levels. You are creating a pattern in your subconscious thought when you continually and routinely repeat positive affirmations to yourself.

"If we understood the power of our thoughts, we would guard them more closely. If we understood the awesome power of our words, we would prefer silence to almost anything negative. In our thoughts and words, we create our own weaknesses and our own strengths. Our limitations and joys begin in our hearts. We can always replace negative with positive." - Betty Eadie

Our thoughts have power, as do our words. As the old adage goes, we are what we think. That’s why the most effective positive affirmations are phrased in the present tense as if what you are declaring about yourself is already true. FAKE IT TIL’ YOU MAKE IT!

The most effective positive affirmations in my experience are short and SWEET:

I was made with divine intention.

I can, I will, I do, END OF STORY.

I am adventurous, I overcome my fears by following my intuition.

I am in charge of how I feel today, I feel happy. I am enough.

I have the power to create change. I have the power to make a difference.

Behavioral scientists and psychologists explain that when engaging in self-affirmation, you’re building self-integrity, confidence, and a better understanding of self, which allows you to be more reasonable and rational. This leads to increased problem solving and critical thinking abilities, which play a major role in mental performance and decision making.

My final thought for today is that any type of self-affirmation, positive, introspective, or negative, helps to build your internal and external self-identity.

It’s clear that all affirmations have an effect on cognitive restructuring. Do you want your brain to be rewired with inspiring and uplifting thoughts in mind or the opposite?

@mRuddo #TheMotivationMovement mRuddo.com

Click to view: show page on Awesound

Next Episode

039: We’re ALL Natural-Born Salespeople

Whether you would like to acknowledge it or not, everybody is a salesperson.

You are selling yourself when asking for a raise, or for more responsibility at work.

You are selling to your team members on a strategy when you propose a new idea or campaign.

You are selling to your kid when you are bartering with them to do their chores.

We are also constantly being sold to, so we in essence all engage in negotiations on a daily basis as well.

When politicians are campaigning for our votes, when a new restaurant in town runs a great deal to drum up new customers, when the pastor at the congregation is preaching, when our significant other is trying to eat chicken for dinner when you want a burger . . .

SALES IS EVERYWHERE, you can’t hide from it.

Now, you may not be the great salesperson to ever grace the earth, but I challenge you to develop your sales skills because there are few other skills as universally useful as sales.

“The purpose of a pitch isn’t necessarily to move others immediately to adopt your idea. The purpose is to offer something so compelling that it begins a conversation, brings the other person in as a participant, and eventually arrives at an outcome that appeals to both of you.” - Daniel H. Pink

Have integrity, meet a need and solve a problem. Once your perspective shifts to “How can I serve?”, VS “How can I sell?”, you’ll feel much better about being labeled a salesperson.

@mRuddo #TheMotivationMovement mRuddo.com

Click to view: show page on Awesound