Worry: What a Wasted Emotion!

Have you ever spent days, weeks, or even months worrying that something bad may happen in the future… but the event never happens?

Or perhaps you have spent many an hour worrying about whether a work colleague likes you… a decision that is completely out of your hands?

Worry is a pointless and wasted emotion. It is unproductive, and it uses precious energy for no positive reward. This can lead to high levels of overwhelm, anxiety, and stress. 

Just as adults worry, our students worry, too. One way of alleviating unnecessary worry is to understand what things we can and cannot control. This process can keep our worries in check, therefore having a positive effect on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. 

Introducing… the circle of control!

Help Alleviate Anxiety in Children with This Circle of Control Poster 

This classroom poster serves as a visual reminder to students that there are some things in life that we have the power to control and other things that we do not have the power to control. The circle is an important visual cue – if something lies within the circle, we can control it. Things outside the circle are out of our control… it is therefore not worth us wasting our energy worrying about them!

The things we have the power to control include:

• How I treat people
• How I respond to challenges
• How I spend my time
• The words I use
• The amount of effort I give
• How I take care of myself
• My behavior choices
• My thoughts

The things we do not have the power to control include:

• What other people say
• Events from the past
• The weather
• Feeling sick
• If someone wants to be your friend
• How other people feel
• Other people’s likes and dislikes

How to Make the Most of Your Circle of Control Poster

This poster has been created by a team of dedicated teachers to support social-emotional learning in your classroom. You may wish to use it in the following ways:

1. Print the color version of the poster on tabloid paper and display it in your classroom as a visual reminder of the things we can and cannot control in our daily lives.
2. Print the black and white version of the poster on letter paper and provide to students as a coloring activity.

Before You Download

This resource prints as a full color and a black and white PDF. Please use the dropdown menu to choose between these versions.

Take a look at some other fabulous resources that address social-emotional concepts with your students: 

teaching resource The Feelings Flow — Classroom Poster Help students understand the transient nature of emotions with this simple poem about feelings. teaching resource Well-Being Self-Reflection Prompts PowerPoint Make mental wellness check-ins a regular part of your day with our collection of 50 student self-reflection prompts. teaching resource Mindful Breathing Exercises – Task Cards Use these mindfulness breathing exercises to help students calm themselves down when they are feeling upset or anxious.