Imagine a life where your energy is precisely directed, your anxieties are minimized, and your impact is maximized. This guide explores two profound frameworks—the Stoic dichotomy (or trichotomy) of control and Stephen Covey’s Circle of Influence—which, when combined, offer a powerful path to achieving just that. Discover how these ancient and modern philosophies synergize to unlock a more intentional and impactful way of living.
The Stoic Dichotomy and Trichotomy of Control
At the heart of Stoic philosophy lies the fundamental principle of distinguishing between what is within our control and what is not. This is often referred to as the Dichotomy of Control.
- Things in Our Control: Our opinions, impulses, desires, aversions, and, in short, all our own actions. These are internal and subject to our direct will.
- Things Not in Our Control: Our body, property, reputation, office, and, in short, all external things. These are not subject to our direct will and are largely governed by external forces or chance.
The Stoics argued that true peace and freedom come from focusing solely on what is within our control, accepting what is not, and recognizing that distress arises from trying to control the uncontrollable.
A more nuanced version, the Trichotomy of Control, expands this to three categories:
- Fully in Our Control: Our judgments, thoughts, beliefs, values, and intentions. (e.g., choosing to be virtuous, deciding how to respond to an insult).
- Partially in Our Control (or Co-determined): Our efforts and actions towards an outcome, where the outcome itself is not guaranteed. (e.g., trying to win a race, preparing for an exam, making a good impression). We control our input and intention, but not the final result (e.g., the victory, the grade, or how others perceive us).
- Not in Our Control: External events, other people’s actions, the weather, past events, our physical health (beyond basic care). (e.g., the outcome of a race, the questions on an exam, how others perceive us).
The wisdom here is to direct our full attention and effort to the first category, perform our best in the second, and calmly accept the third.
Stephen Covey’s Circle of Influence
In his seminal work, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey introduced the concepts of the Circle of Concern and the Circle of Influence.
- Circle of Concern: This encompasses all the things that concern us – global warming, the economy, political events, other people’s behavior, our health, our job security, etc. Many of these things are outside our direct control.
- Circle of Influence: Within our Circle of Concern lies a smaller circle, the Circle of Influence. This includes things we can actually do something about, directly or indirectly. It represents the proactive choices we can make, our attitudes, our skills, and our actions.
Covey posits that proactive people focus their efforts within their Circle of Influence. By acting on what they can control, they cause their Circle of Influence to expand. Conversely, reactive people focus on their Circle of Concern, often complaining about things they cannot change. This leads to a shrinking Circle of Influence, as they feel increasingly victimized by external circumstances.
Comparing and Contrasting the Frameworks
These frameworks offer powerful lenses for navigating life and optimizing our energy.
Similarities:
- Focus on Agency: Both fundamentally distinguish between what we can affect and what we cannot, urging us to concentrate on the former.
- Stress Reduction: By letting go of the need to control the uncontrollable, both frameworks inherently lead to reduced anxiety and frustration.
- Personal Responsibility: They empower individuals to take responsibility for their responses and actions, rather than blaming external circumstances.
Differences:
- Origin and Philosophy: The Stoic concepts are rooted in ancient philosophy, aimed at achieving ataraxia (tranquility) and eudaimonia (flourishing) through virtue and rational acceptance. Covey’s model is a modern management and self-help framework, focused on effectiveness, productivity, and leadership.
- Scope of “Control” vs. “Influence”: Stoic “control” is often more about internal assent, judgment, and the will. Covey’s “influence” extends to external actions that can affect outcomes and other people, even if not directly “controlling” them. The Stoic would say you control your effort to influence, but not the result of that influence.
- Emphasis: Stoicism places a stronger emphasis on inner peace and acceptance of fate. Covey emphasizes proactive action and expanding one’s impact on the world.
Combining and Summarizing the Relation: A Synergistic Approach
The true power emerges when we view these two frameworks not as competing ideas, but as complementary tools that enhance each other.
- Stoicism as the Foundation for the Circle of Influence: The Stoic dichotomy/trichotomy helps us precisely define what truly belongs within our Circle of Influence. Our judgments, intentions, and reactions (Stoic “fully in our control”) are the absolute core of our Circle of Influence. The things we can try to do, where the outcome is co-determined (Stoic “partial control”), are also firmly within this circle. By first applying the Stoic filter, we can more accurately identify what is genuinely actionable and avoid wasting energy on what is truly outside our sphere.
- The Circle of Influence as the Application of Stoic Wisdom: Once we’ve identified what’s in our control (or influence) using Stoic principles, Covey’s model provides a practical roadmap for how to apply that focus. It encourages us to proactively take action, communicate effectively, and build relationships, thereby expanding the very boundaries of what we can influence. Stoicism tells us what to focus on; Covey tells us how to expand that focus.
- The Sweet Spot: Controlling Our Response: The ultimate intersection lies in recognizing that even for things firmly in our Circle of Concern (and outside our Circle of Influence), our response to them is always within our control (a Stoic “fully in our control” item). This response, in turn, can either shrink or expand our Circle of Influence. For example, while you can’t control a global pandemic (Circle of Concern), you can control your adherence to safety measures, your attitude, and your efforts to support your community (Circle of Influence). These actions can then influence the local outcome or your personal well-being.
In essence, the Stoic frameworks provide the “why” and the “what” – why it’s important to differentiate control, and what specifically is truly ours to command (our inner world). Covey’s Circle of Influence provides the “how” – how to strategically apply that control to expand our impact on the external world, leading to greater effectiveness and personal growth.
Conclusion
By integrating the Stoic dichotomy/trichotomy of control with Stephen Covey’s Circle of Influence, we forge a comprehensive strategy for navigating life’s complexities. This powerful synergy teaches us to cultivate inner peace through acceptance, while simultaneously empowering us to proactively shape our circumstances and expand our influence. The result is a life lived with both profound tranquility and impactful effectiveness.
Note:
This article is written by Google Gemini, inspired by Stoic principles I read from “Filosofi Teras” by Henri Manampiring, and the famous “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey. Dichotomy/trichotomy of control is introduced in the book written by William B. Irvine, “A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy”. The concepts of Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence were first introduced and extensively developed in the 7 habits book. The initial prompt I used to generate this article: Write an article that compares, combines and summarizes the relation between dichotomy or trichotomy of control, and circle of influence