What is the Circle of Concern?

We all worry, but there comes a point where concern can become debilitating. While the circle of concern provides a way to reflect on our fears and frets, spending too much time in it can make us feel helpless and frustrated.

Discover what you might find in your circle of concern and what you can do to manage excessive worrying.

What is the Circle of Concern?

Your circle of concern includes everything outside your sphere of influence. These concerns include health, relationships, career stability, social issues, and other things you worry about. While it’s natural to worry about things we’re affected by, spending too much time in the circle of concern can cause us to become anxious and depressed.

The circle of concern comes from Stoic philosophy, which first introduced the idea of concentric circles [*]. Hierocles's circles visually illustrated human relationships and moral development, with concern being the outermost ring. The circle extended its concern category outward to foster a sense of universal brotherhood and togetherness.

Stephen R. Covey later modernized the circle of concern in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People [*]. Unlike Hierocles, Covey focused his framework on the circles of control and influence to prevent frustration and helplessness.

Circle of Concern vs. Circle of Influence

While the circle of influence also includes things you might worry about, the circle of concern is broader and includes things you can’t control. These issues can be internal (such as a genetic condition) or external (such as climate change).

Unlike the narrow, actionable, and proactive circle of influence, the circle of concern is broad, inclusive, and reactive. Spending too much time in this circle can lead to dwelling and obsession.

Some people stuck in the circle of concern develop learned helplessness, which creates a sense of powerlessness resulting from a traumatic event or failure to succeed [*].

Examples of the Circle of Concern

The circle of concern contains anything we feel strongly about, whether we can control these things. One example of something inside the circle of concern is any global issue, such as climate change.

Suppose you’re an environmentalist concerned about the long-term effects of climate change. While the concern is valid, as with many other environmentalists, the broader impact of climate change is ultimately out of your control. Instead, you can turn your fears into something productive, such as contributing to solutions by reducing personal waste, arranging clean-up initiatives, and advocating for change.

Another example of something within the circle of concern is other people’s behavior. You might become stressed because a coworker is always late to meetings or a family member frequently makes questionable life choices. Unfortunately, you can’t control their actions, nor can you force them to change. No matter how much their behavior affects you, the most you can do is confront them or provide support.

Uncontrollable events also fall into the circle of concern, as things like the weather and the economy are out of your control. You can move these things into your circle of influence by adjusting your plans to suit better weather or managing your finances to account for economic changes.

How to Manage the Circle of Concern

Having so many things inside your circle of concern can feel overwhelming, but there are positive ways to manage them.

Identify your concerns

Start by defining and assessing your stressors broadly. List all your concerns, even if they seem irrational, and rate them according to how much they impact your life.

Then, align them with your goals and values. How do these concerns disrupt your objectives? Can you narrow your goals into more manageable steps?

Reflect on any actions you’ve taken to try and solve these problems. If something isn’t working, consider why it hasn’t been effective.

Finally, identify what you can move into the circle of influence. You might have more control over specific outcomes than you think or are simply focusing your energy in the wrong direction.

When helping a child identify their circle of concern, simplify the concept by making it relatable through play and visuals. For example, you can use scenario-based play and simple narratives, such as losing a toy or being unable to visit the park because of the weather.

Your goals may be more sophisticated with a teenager, such as helping them develop better self-awareness and critical thinking about their concerns. You might encourage them to journal their worries if they don’t feel comfortable sharing them with you and use their spare time to self-reflect.

Focus on your circle of control

Before considering your circle of influence, determine what you can directly control. For example, if you’ve listed fluctuating economic conditions in your circle of concern, consider what you have power over, such as managing your expenses or working with a financial planner.

Focusing on what you can control can significantly reduce stress and anxiety and channel productive energy into constructive action. These purposeful, solution-oriented actions help you cultivate a growth mindset.

The more you realize that some things are within your control, the more confident you will feel. For instance, instead of wasting energy worrying about a congenital disease, you can take proactive steps toward improving your health, such as scheduling regular checkups with your healthcare provider and introducing regular exercise into your regimen. You'll feel more empowered as you see positive outcomes with this new routine.

Expand your circle of influence

The last step to managing your circle of concern is expanding your circle of influence. Doing this requires a commitment to improving yourself and your relationships. Don't resort to judgment if you’re concerned about how others carry themselves. Instead, be communicative, empathetic, and present when they need you.

Simultaneously, reflect on what you can improve, whether knowledge or a skill. Master something within your field or community. Becoming masterful in your craft can put you in a better position to take on more responsibility.

Another way to expand your circle of influence is to work on your emotional intelligence. By being more in tune with your emotions, you can resolve issues calmly and diplomatically—no more time fretting about potentially harmful outcomes.

With younger children, expanding their circle of influence might look like assigning them more responsibilities at home to give them a sense of autonomy or facilitating group activities like playdates and team sports.

Teenagers might expand their circles of influence through more community-involved activities like volunteer groups, church communities, or school groups.

The Bottom Line

It’s natural to worry about the things that concern you, but focusing on what you can control puts you in a better position to reach your goals. Inspire your children to expand their circle of influence by being present and providing opportunities to succeed.

Use our growth mindset posters to keep your child or teen motivated.

Sources:

1. Jorge M. “The Circles of Care: A Stoic Approach.” Advancing Global Bioethics, 2021.
2. Covey S. “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Simon and Schuster, 1989.
3. Vollmayr B, Gass P. “Learned helplessness: unique features and translational value of a cognitive depression model.” Cell and Tissue Research, 2013.