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Do you feel in control of your future? OR is your future in the hands of fate?
We all have either an internal or an external Locus of Control. Locus of Control (LOC) refers
to your view of how your actions impact life. Internal LOC people feel in control. They
are masters of their own destinies. External LOC people feel like life events
are based on luck, fate, or other people. People with an internal LOC are more successful
in their efforts to improve health or increase wealth.
So, what if you have an external LOC? Don't despair. You can move from an external toward
an internal LOC. Here's how: Take an online survey to learn more about
your LOC. Search the internet. There are dozens of online LOC questionnaires.
A typical question is "Are unhappy events in life the result of bad luck or personal
mistakes?" Make a list of the external forces you blame
for your poor health or financial management practices.
Do you blame a busy job for your lack of time to exercise? Do you blame your parents for
not teaching you how to manage money? Make a list of positive and negative events
that happen in your life over the next month. Examine how your decisions and actions affected
the outcome. Then you're ready to increase your internal
LOC by setting small, quick, easy-to-reach goals. Focus on your own efforts to achieve
these goals. Remember to attribute your success to your
own actions. Celebrate your achievements. Some examples are:
Save $1 per day plus pocket change to save $50 in one month.
Lose 4 pounds in 5 weeks by eliminating 200 calories per day or exercising to burn off
200 more calories per day. Take charge. Discover your power to improve
your health and increase your wealth.