The Control Compass
Chapter Three: Mapping Your Locus of Control
Understanding your natural orientation toward control and influence in life situations will help you direct your efforts more effectively.
Instructions
For each paired statement, circle the one that better reflects how you typically think or respond. There are no right or wrong answers—only your authentic perspective matters.
Section 1: Facing Challenges
1. When something goes wrong in my life:
A. I look for what I might have done differently
B. I consider what outside factors contributed to the problem
2. When I encounter an obstacle to my goals:
A. I focus on finding alternative routes to succeed
B. I recognize when circumstances make success unlikely
3. When I think about my future success:
A. I believe my actions today directly shape my outcomes tomorrow
B. I understand that timing and circumstances play the biggest role
4. In difficult situations, I typically:
A. Focus on what aspects I can control or influence
B. Accept that some things are simply beyond anyone’s control
5. When I receive criticism or critical feedback:
A. I look for what I can learn and apply
B. I consider whether the critic’s perspective is fair or valid
Section 2: Energy and Response
6. My energy levels usually:
A. Reflect choices I make about focus and attitude
B. Respond to the environment and situations around me
7. When unexpected changes happen:
A. I focus on how I can adapt and respond effectively
B. I evaluate how the changes will impact my circumstances
8. When I’m successful at something:
A. I recognize the specific actions and choices that led to success
B. I appreciate when conditions and timing worked in my favor
9. When I face setbacks:
A. I maintain my energy by focusing on next steps
B. I allow time to process disappointment before moving forward
10. My ability to influence important outcomes in my life is:
A. Significant, my choices and actions matter tremendously
B. Present, but limited, by many factors beyond my control
Scoring
Count how many A responses you selected: _____
Count how many B responses you selected: _____
Scoring and Interpretation Guide
8-10 “A” responses: Strong Internal Control Orientation You naturally focus on what you can influence. This empowering perspective helps you maintain positive energy and resilience even in challenging circumstances. Your juice flows from a deep belief in your ability to shape outcomes through your choices and actions.
5-7 “A” responses: Balanced Control Orientation You recognize both your personal influence and that of external factors. This balanced perspective allows you to direct your energy toward what you can control while realistically acknowledging limitations. Your juice is adaptable—you know when to push forward and when to redirect.
2-4 “A” responses: Situational Control Orientation You tend to see external factors as more influential than personal actions. While this perspective can protect you from unwarranted self-blame, it may sometimes limit your energy and initiative. Your juice may fluctuate based on how favorable you perceive circumstances to be.
0-1 “A” responses: External Control Orientation You primarily see outcomes as determined by forces beyond your influence. This perspective may help you accept difficult situations, but it can significantly limit your energy and motivation. Your juice may feel dependent on external conditions aligning favorably.
Next Steps: Your Motivation’s Redirection Plan
If you have a strong internal orientation: Maintain your empowering perspective while developing compassion for others who may not share it. Remember that while you can always control your response, acknowledging real external constraints helps you direct your energy most effectively.
If you have a balanced orientation: You’re well-positioned to maintain steady energy across changing circumstances. Continue strengthening your internal focus in areas where you tend to defer to external factors.
If you have a situational or external orientation: Begin building your internal locus by:
Identifying one small area where you can exert more influence
Keeping a daily “control journal” noting decisions that positively affected your day
Practicing the question, “What aspect of this can I influence?” when facing challenges
Reflection Question
The next time you face a challenge, pause and ask yourself: “What’s my juice right now? Am I directing it toward what I can control, or am I letting circumstances control me?”
Your locus of control is not fixed. Every small step you take to focus on what you can control builds momentum, confidence, and energy. Even in the most restrictive circumstances, you always retain control over your response. The energy you bring—your juice—remains yours to direct, regardless of external conditions. Keep making choices that put you in the driver’s seat of your own life.
This assessment is intended as a reflective and developmental reference tool, designed to offer insights into energy patterns and influence dynamics. It is not a clinical, psychological, or psychometric assessment, nor has it undergone formal clinical validation or testing. Results should be interpreted as guidance for self-awareness and growth, rather than as diagnostic conclusions.