Friday Forward - Forecast Fixation (#490)
What might change if you thought less about the weather and other things you cannot control and focused more on what you do?
For some reason the weather always feels especially unpredictable this time of year. A day will start with clear skies and sunshine, but a thunderstorm emerges later in the afternoon, almost out of nowhere.
Weather apps try their best—precipitation percentages, radar maps, hourly predictions—but they are often wrong. And the more distant a forecast is, the less reason to trust it.
Still, it’s remarkable how much mental energy people invest in monitoring and worrying about the weather. It’s as if these people believe knowing the forecast might somehow affect what actually occurs.
Weather is a perfect illustration of the concept of locus of control: whether we fixate on things outside our control (external locus) or primarily focus on what is within our control (internal locus). This dynamic isn’t only present in the weather. Many people obsess over things they are completely unable to control—such as a change in the economy, another person’s actions, or the possibility of a natural disaster. While this is understandable, it is usually a waste of time, energy and stress.
To that point: years ago, a speaker joined our leadership offsite. Out of everything he said, a single simple message resonated with our team above everything else:
“If you can control it, why worry about it? Because you control it.”
“If you can’t control it, why worry about it? Because you can’t control it.”
This sounds simplistic, but it is easier said than done.
If something is within your control, don’t waste time worrying. Instead, use that energy to change or impact the outcome.
Conversely, if there is something that is completely out of your control, don’t waste time worrying about it. Focus instead on what you do control and remember that you can always control your reaction and what you do next.
I’ve found myself returning to the speaker’s advice often, especially in the second case.
If you're planning an outdoor wedding or a beach day, it’s practical to keep tabs on the forecast. But once you’ve made a contingency plan, there’s a point at which monitoring the weather causes needless worry. And obsessively monitoring the weather is certainly not a good substitute for using that time to prepare for bad weather.
So many situations in life and business fall under this same rule: you can’t control it, but you can control how you respond. That’s the essence of having an internal locus of control: the belief your outcomes are primarily determined by your own actions, decisions, and efforts, rather than by external forces like luck, fate, or other people.
Conversely, people with an external locus of control tend to feel that life happens to them. They blame the forecast, the economy, their boss, or “bad luck” more than they reflect on how their own choices shaped an outcome, or how they could’ve been better prepared.
The problem is, when we obsess over external conditions, we become passive. We are less likely to take action because we are waiting for the ideal moment, which we can’t possibly predict. We avoid risk and miss opportunities. And often, we end up less prepared as a result for what comes next.
A healthier approach is to acknowledge uncertainty, prepare for different outcomes, and move forward. If it looks like it might rain, grab an umbrella or a raincoat. Don’t cancel your plans or let the seven-day forecast dictate your mood.
What might change if you thought less about the weather and other things you cannot control and focused more on what you do?
Quote of The Week
“You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather” – Andre 3000
Have a great weekend!
-Bob
robertglazer.com
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Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.
-William Inge
Another good topic and article. It sounds like you read Dr. Steven Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, where he talks of the circle of concern, influence, and control. If you haven't you might enjoy it.