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 wellbeing. 

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 are able to 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 behaviour choices
• My thoughts

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

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

Before You Download

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

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

teaching resource The Worry Waterfall – Anxiety Management Poster Teach your students how to deal effectively with worrying thoughts with this classroom poster. teaching resource How Are You Feeling Today? Poster Help students to recognise and identify their feelings and emotions with this colourful classroom display poster. teaching resource The Feelings Flow - Poster Help students understand the transient nature of emotions with this simple poem about feelings.