Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1008893
Over the past few months we've celebrated several National holidays which served to honor our fallen heroes, our American flag and our Nation's birthday. So, this month, we felt it might be a fitting time to transition from celebration to introspection. It seems our daily lives are perpetually bombarded by disturbing news from all sorts of media. Sensational newspaper headlines seek to grab our attention with stories of crime, corruption and tragedy. Television news broadcasts continually bombard us with "breaking news" stories of pain, suffering and more tragedies. And, worse yet, social media often spews heartless criticisms of everything and everyone. It seems we cannot escape all the political hype pouring out from all sides. It's no wonder so many people are stressed and anxious all the time. We'd like to offer a possible source of relief to our good friends here in Four Seasons. Renowned educator, author and businessman Steven Covey wrote a book entitled The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, in which he shared the concept of the "Circle of Influence vs Circle of Concern." He even included a simple graphic which depicts the idea. The two circles represent the basic areas where you can focus your time and energy. According to Covey, all too often people focus too much time and energy outside of their Circle of Influence, and in their Circle of Concern. Such people typically worry about things over which they have no control; such as the weather, international politics, crime, traffic or conflicts in the Middle East. Covey suggests that preoccupying yourself with issues you can't control is a huge waste of time and energy. This can lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety and anger. Covey notes that highly effective people think and act primarily within their Circle of Influence. They prefer to forget about the things they cannot control, opting instead to focus their time and energy on issues over which they have control and where they can actually make a difference. In this way, they gradually expand their Circle of Influence as they earn more control and respect. Potentially, their Circle of Influence may actually begin to extend into their Circle of Concern. Here are some examples of things people frequently worry about (Circle of Concern), followed by an example of something they could do to improve the situation (Circle of Influence): • The environment – recycle your plastic, paper and glass • Physical health – commit to a reasonable exercise plan and healthy diet • Being single – cultivate your social skills, go places where you can meet more potential partners • Feeling uninformed – take initiative to read, attend informative meetings, ask pertinent questions So, where do you spend most of your time and energy? If you find yourself shaking your head while watching or reading news reports, wondering what the world is coming to… you're way out into your Circle of Concern. Conversely, if you were working within your Circle of Influence, you'd be doing such things as participating in community action meetings, volunteering in some worthwhile capacity, or providing leadership and guidance to build a better future for your community. Whenever you're getting worked up over something, ask yourself, "What can I do to change this situation for the better?" Figure out some good ideas and act on them. If you really can't think of anything, realize that you're wasting valuable time and energy worrying about the issue. Let it go and redirect your resources to an area where you can actually make a difference. Message From the Board of Directors Sincerely, and on behalf of your Board of Directors, Jim Hatcher, Ken Pounders, Tony Criscenti, Gene Hikel, Jim Crase, and Greg Rockvam, Russ Brown President 2 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | August 2018 |