In his groundbreaking self-help book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen Covey claims that one of the key elements of habit number one (being proactive) is to focus on what he describes as one’s “Circle of Influence,” as opposed to one’s “Circle of Concern.”
He explains that, “Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on things they can do something about. The nature of their energy is positive, enlarging and magnifying, causing their Circle of Influence to increase.” He then goes on to describe a person who focuses their attention on their Circle of Concern: “Reactive people, on the other hand, focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern. They focus on the weakness of other people, the problems in the environment, and circumstances over which they have no control. Their focus results in blaming and accusing attitudes, reactive language, and increased feelings of victimization. The negative energy generated by that focus, combined with neglect in areas they could do something about, causes their Circle of Influence to shrink.”
I am of the opinion that one of the best ways to work within and enlarge one’s Circle of Influence is to donate time to a worthy cause, and that one of the best places to find these is through a local church. Now before you jump on me for suggesting it, let’s forget about the “church” label for a moment and consider what resources that just one local church, New Life in Alamo (see their ad on page 23), offer to those seeking to positively change (help) their world through their own “Circle of Influence.”
First, they support the San Francisco City Academy (see “Miracle on Jones Street,” by Clint Ladine). For 11 years the City Academy has been providing educational opportunities for the underserved children of the Tenderloin District. These kids are being taking from a path of gangs, violence, and prison, and set on a new path of opportunity, healthy relationships and success. This program, which receives no support from the City or government, provides an education, hot meals, after-school opportunities, and basic medical services for these children.
New Life Church supports a number of other effective programs that directly impact lives in important, even life-saving, ways. Through New Life, your Circle of Influence can include helping the homeless in San Francisco’s Tenderloin through the San Francisco Rescue Mission, or teenagers in Oakland and San Jose through a youth drug treatment program called Teen Challenge. You can even expand your “Circle” to positively impact the lives of people in other parts of the world, like in Mexico through a program called Open Arms, where impoverished children are provided hot meals, an education and most importantly the experience of God’s love through people who care.
Want to be a “highly successful person?” Then focus on the things you can really do something about—focus on your Circle of Influence. And an easy way to do that is to be involved in your local church.
