“Circumstances are beyond human control, but our conduct is in our own power.” – Benjamin Disraeli

Have you noticed how many times you are hearing people say “it is what it is” or “why bother”?  Are these expressions just throw away lines or could they equate to some indication of how people view their perceived control in 2024? 

These statements seem to be about people perceiving that destiny or fate is in control of their lives.  Therefore, ‘why bother’ because ‘it is what it is.’ 

Does this mean our perceived control is in decline?  Regardless of whether this is true or not, are there strategies to counter this belief?  We know that a perceived lack of control can affect our morale and our overall well-being through creating higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety.

An External Locus of Control

When our belief is that outcomes are a result of external factors such as fate, luck or chance we are said to have an external locus of control.  This external locus of control means that we do not believe that outcomes are based on our actions. 

A perceived external locus of control believes more in destiny, good or bad fortune, and outcomes that are completely random.   The terms ‘why bother’ and ‘it is what it is’ suggest that we are not convinced that our actions will make a difference in the outcome.  Both statements emanate from an external locus of control.

An Internal Locus of Control

In 1906 the San Francisco earthquake levelled and burned over 20,000 buildings.  Within three years over 20,000 buildings in San Francisco were rebuilt.  These San Franciscans did not have an external locus of control.  They believed their actions could influence outcomes.  They possessed an internal locus of control. 

In Dubai and Doha, humans have transformed a desert landscape into two of the most modern and beautiful cities in the history of the world.  These modern-day architects possessed an internal locus of control.  They set out to change the world they lived in and they achieved, beyond imagination, what previous cultures only dreamed of doing.  They turned the desert into a garden.     

The difference between an internal and an external locus of control is based on perception.  We appear to control our perceptions through our choices.  When we do not believe our choices will make a difference our motivation to act is diminished.  This potentially explains in part the ‘why bother’ in today’s vernacular.  When perceived external control permeates our beliefs we feel blocked and our overall well-being will be impacted accordingly.

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic a considerable number of people switched from an internal to an external locus of control.  This switch affected morale and confidence.  Eventually, the perception that ‘it is what it is’ took over for many.  Stress levels skyrocketed.  Anxiety increased.  Depression affected millions.  Our overall well-being plummeted.  There was a sense of helplessness and hopelessness that became pervasive throughout the world. 

The world changed from a ‘can do’ attitude to a ‘no can do’ attitude.  Since the height of COVID-19, there has been a gradual shift back toward a more internal locus of control due to the perception that we have more choices available and we are less restricted.  International travel has escalated to an all-time high.   Recently, we are moving back toward a “can do” attitude.   

”Agency is a divine gift to you. You are free to choose what you will be and what you will do.” – Russell M. Nelson

Personal Agency

A person with a sense of personal agency perceives themselves as the subject influencing their own actions and life circumstances.  Personal agency equates to having an internal locus of control.  The chance or luck element is absent.  The external locus of control gives way to an internal locus of control.

The San Franciscans who rebuilt their city after the total destruction of the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fires is an excellent example of both personal agency and having an internal locus of control.  Good fortune or fate would not rebuild their city. 

Only when their perceived control did ‘rise out of the ashes’ did San Francisco get rebuilt.  They took action and said why bother to think why bother.  Instead of saying ‘it is what it is’ they said ‘we will change what it is’, with their hands.  And they did!

Perceived Control

When we take action we tend not to feel as though things simply happen to us, instead we feel we are in charge.  Personal agency gives us a feeling of being in control of our outcomes.  You are free to accept or challenge your thoughts. A perceived internal control decreases symptoms of depression and anxiety.  The effects of stress are also less significant.

An internal locus of control feels very much like we are advantaged both physically and psychologically.   The tendency for motivation to create change is maximized.  Our ability to achieve life satisfaction is realized, and the probability of challenging our negative thoughts is improved.     

”Belief in the absence of illusions is itself an illusion.” - Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

Illusory Control

When we overestimate our perceived-control we may find ourselves slipping into an illusion of control.  Luck, an external locus of control, is an example of this type of illusory control.  Believing in lucky numbers and gambling illustrates how this illusion can be unreliable. 

Superstition and the belief in destiny are two more examples of illusory control.  These external illusions interfere with the acknowledgement of one’s successful outcomes.  Success is attributed to luck, chance or some random outcome instead of the self.  

We know that our perceived control will always be either internal or external.  However, we have little influence on how external factors will come to fruition.  The contention of this paper is that personal agency emanates from our perceived internal control and this creates more successful outcomes.  The San Franciscans of 1906-1909 epitomize this contention.