Your Focus Belongs Where You Have Control [Mindful Moments]

Social media, news feeds, 24/7 news channels, gossip—our attention is being pulled in every direction, every second. It's easy to feel like we need to keep up with everything, to know every headline, to weigh in on every issue. But the truth is, not everything deserves our focus. And not everything is ours to carry. These platforms are filled with stories from every corner of the globe—politics, economics, crime, sports, and more. But just because something is trending, and just because everyone seems to be talking about it, doesn’t mean we are required to engage with it or feel deeply affected.

Imagine two circles. The inner circle includes the things we can directly influence: our family, our neighborhood, our social and professional circles, and the specific areas where our expertise or actions carry weight. Beyond that is a much larger outer circle—things that may impact us indirectly, but where our own influence is minimal or non-existent.

For instance, global politics or far-off economic crises might affect us in the long run. But often, there’s little we can do in the present moment to influence them. Obsessing over such issues, constantly checking updates, or arguing about them online usually adds no real value. It only drains our focus and energy from what actually needs our attention.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we should be ignorant. Being aware of what’s happening in the world is important. But being informed and being consumed are two different things. Reading every opinion piece or watching 24/7 updates—especially from non-experts—is not the same as understanding.

So the goal is balance: remain informed, but reserve your attention for what you can actually influence.

In a world where so much lies beyond our influence, we are reminded to return to what is within our grasp. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised:

“Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.” (Tirmidhi)

It’s a call to protect our inner peace by letting go of unnecessary involvement in matters outside our control.

This principle echoes throughout classical and modern wisdom. Imam al-Ghazali, in his Letter to a Disciple, stressed the importance of intentional living:

“Your time should not be without structure… Every action and thought must have purpose and be within your control.”

In other words, the disciplined use of our time and focus isn’t just a productivity hack — it’s a spiritual practice.

Stephen Covey, in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, draws a similar boundary:

“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. Reactive people focus on the Circle of Concern.”

That shift from reaction to action — from anxiety to agency — is where true change begins. And as Ryan Holiday writes in The Obstacle is the Way:

“Focus on what you can control, ignore what you can’t. This is the inner citadel.”

This inner citadel — our values, our choices, our effort — is the only territory that’s truly ours to govern.

These timeless reminders ground us in trust and clarity, freeing us from the mental noise of striving after what was never ours to control.

So in a world of constant noise, the question we must keep asking is this:

Is this within my circle of responsibility? Can I do something about it?

If not — let it go. Redirect your attention to where your actions matter.

That’s how change begins — quietly, consistently, right where you are.