Byron Katie likes to say that there are only three kinds of business in the world: mine, yours, and God’s. God’s business refers to the forces of Nature or to events that are beyond human control. Your business, is someone else’s life, including what they feel, think, and choose to do. My business is what’s left, that is, what is within my control.
In his popular book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey describes the notion of Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence. We add here the Circle of Control, where
Circle of Control = What I choose to do and can directly manipulate.
Circle of Influence = What is not directly within my control, but can be affected by what I do.
Circle of Concern = What I mentally worry about, whether or not I can do anything about it.
See Also
- Loving What Is, by Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
- The Work of Byron Katie: The Three Kinds of Business, by Ernest Holm Svendsen
Peace at Last! 
It’s good to hear your voice again, Fabrice. I, too, was concerned for your well-being. Sincerely, Dominic
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Glad you are back without another great episode. I particularly appreciated the Circles diagram. I have set up my computer so that it pops up every day.
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Happy to hear from you again!
This idea of «Three Kinds of Business» is very interesting, I started to explain it to my kids.
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