Research has shown that those with an internal locus of control—that is, they feel that they control their own destiny, rather than their fate being largely determined by external forces—tend to be happier, less depressed, and less stressed.1 It is true that many of the stressors we face in life are largely beyond our control, though we can still cope with these things by adjusting how we think about things, working on our personal resilience, and focusing on the things we can control. Other times, we either do have control over what we face, or we have more control than we realize.

When we recognize what we can control, we feel more empowered, so having a realistic view of life and an internal locus of control can help us feel less stressed and more empowered in many situations in life. Fortunately, while some factors are inborn, if your locus of control isn't as 'internal' as you'd like it to be, there are things you can do to change your locus of control and empower yourself. Here's a process to practice: