A Practical Reset for Business Owners
If you own or run a business, feeling unfocused or overwhelmed isn’t a sign you’re doing something wrong. It means you are carrying a lot – decisions, responsibilities, people, and uncertainty – often all at once.
When pressure builds, your thinking can start working overtime. You’re busy in your head, struggling to focus, feeling frustrated and sensing that progress is slower than it should be.
That is not a capability issue. It‘s more likely the result of problem-solving energy being focused in the wrong place.
Overthinking = Problem-Solving without a Useful Outlet
If you notice yourself:
- Replaying conversations
- Worrying about “what ifs”
- Going over the same issues again and again
- Feeling mentally busy but stuck
Chances are your energy has drifted into things you cannot control.
The goal isn’t to stop thinking; it’s to apply thinking where it matters.
This simple framework helps you redirect your thinking to where it can actually make a difference.
The Three Circles: A Simple Way to Regain Perspective
When your mind is busy and you keep circling the same issues, it can be hard to see clearly what deserves your time and energy.
Overthinking tends to blur the line between what you can act on and what you can’t.
The Three Circles framework helps you sort what is on your mind into:
- What you can control
- What you can influence
- What you need to let go of
Instead of carrying everything at once, you begin to see where your thinking is helping, and where it’s just adding noise.
When you place your energy in the right circle, clarity replaces clutter, and forward movement becomes easier.
The Three Circles:
Circle of Control (Inner)
What you directly control.
This is where your real power sits.
It includes:
- Your decisions
- Your actions
- Your responses
- Your priorities
- How you show up each day
👉 When you put energy here, you create momentum and results.
It is the steady, consistent actions here that keep things moving forward.
Circle of Influence (Middle)
What you can shape but not control.
This is where leadership and relationships matter most.
It includes things you can influence through:
- Conversations
- Communication
- Trust and credibility
- The way you approach situations
- How you support and lead others
👉 Effort here doesn’t guarantee outcomes, but it does increase the likelihood of better ones.
Progress in this circle usually comes through steady, thoughtful engagement.
Circle of Concern (Outer)
What you cannot control:
- The economy
- The weather
- The past
- Other people’s decisions
- Wider uncertainty
👉 Too much energy here fuels worry, overthinking and dwelling.
Awareness matters, because it helps you protect your energy for what really matters.
How to Use The Three Circles When Your Mind Won’t Switch Off
- Get it out of your head
Write down everything that is looping in your mind.
Nothing is too small or too big.
- Sort before you solve
Place each item into one of the three circles:
- Control
- Influence
- Concern
This creates immediate clarity.
- Redirect your energy
Bring your focus back to the inner circles.
This is where movement happens.
Turning Thinking Into Action
For items you control:
Ask:
What is one practical step I can take?
Then take it.
Small actions break mental loops.
For items you influence:
Ask:
What conversation or action could help here?
Then follow through.
Progress helps settle your thinking.
For items in the circle of concern:
- Acknowledge them
- Accept that you cannot fix them
- Let go of trying to mentally solve them
- Redirect your attention
Letting go is not giving up. It is choosing where your energy is most useful.
Make This Your Reset Button
When your mind starts racing or you notice yourself overthinking, pause and ask:
Can I control this, influence it, or do I need to let go?
Then act accordingly.
Over time, this builds:
- Mental resilience
- Better decision-making
- Lower stress
- Stronger leadership
Remember
You don’t need to carry everything.
You only need to carry what is yours to carry.
Put your energy where it can make a difference.
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