My heart pounds beneath my chest, and my hands nervously twitch in their grasp on my bookbag’s straps as I head to my next class. Of all the ways my day can go, I am nearly positive it will not go well. These negative thoughts swarm my brain and loom over me as I take my seat in class and anticipate what I am sure to be a pop quiz in Advanced Placement Psychology. Yet, instead, my day was introduced to a mind-bending concept.
Rather than consistently telling myself that a pop quiz would ruin my day because I was unprepared and needed to study for other classes, I could be more honest with myself. The psychological concept of external locus of control describes believing that life lies beyond one’s control, shaped by fate or others’ actions. This is something that I, as well as many people, have fallen victim to. It is much easier to place responsibility on anything but oneself because it helps lessen the frustration that comes with realizing more could have been done in certain situations. This explains why, in my opinion, maintaining an internal locus of control holds vital importance for human success. An internal locus of control refers to a person and their actions determining their fate. No matter what occurs, a person believes that they can determine the outcome.
Thinking back to my younger days, end-of-year exams and standardized testing always sparked anxiety within me. If I felt that I had not performed to my utmost ability, my mind would draw up a list of all the other factors that might have contributed to this lapse in academic success. When my mom would overhear me vocalizing these lists, she would always tell me, “You’re so negative, why don’t you tell yourself all the reasons you’ll do well instead?” As a little kid, it was easy to let out a frustrated sigh and a quick roll of the eyes because she, of course, just did not get it. However, as I have grown older and learned more, I have realized that my mother knows best.
A change in mindset equates to a change in lifestyle. If one alters the way in which they think and view the world around them, the way they interact with it is bound to change as well. For me, a change to a more positive, can-do mindset has allowed me to tackle obstacles in situations where I previously would have settled for “the world” not being on my side. Learning about the internal locus of control was essential in motivating me to stay positive in my endeavors, but there are other ways I continue to keep myself encouraged.
Admittedly, this might seem a little contradictory to the fact that having an internal locus of control means the person themselves controls their fate, but I love to manifest. I am not referring to meditating or any random activity one thinks of when they hear about manifestation. Simply put, I am talking about reinforcing my goals. My favorite way to do this involves repeatedly writing what I plan to achieve on the small whiteboard attached to my fridge. The process of sitting down and writing what I want to occur in my life as a guarantee helps elevate my mindset regarding the situation that I am “manifesting.” Whether it is when I am eating breakfast or sneaking down to the kitchen for a late-night snack, the whiteboard stares back at me, reminding me that not only can I achieve my goals, but that I am going to put in maximum effort so that I will achieve them. Staying positive and reminding myself that I control my life has aided me through difficult times and will continue helping me keep my head held high when I step into class.
So, the next time one finds themselves sitting for an exam, walking into an interview or facing a nerve-wracking situation, do not let negativity loom. Instead, think positively and tell oneself that one will beat the odds working against them.
