Circle of Control
What are the three parts of the Circle of Control?
(Control / Influence / No Control)
What is the first step in responsible decision making?
(Identify the problem.)
Name one type of information that can influence a decision.
(Facts, laws, values, school rules, consequences, ethics, etc.)
What is a consequence?
(A result of a choice or action.)
Is it a weakness to change your mind when you learn new information?
(No — it shows growth and maturity.)
Is this in your control: Other people’s feelings about what you say?
(No — but you can influence them.)
Why is it important to clearly define the problem before making a decision?
(So you solve the right issue and don’t react emotionally.)
True or False: You should make important decisions based only on how you feel in the moment.
(False.)
What is the difference between a short-term and long-term consequence?
(Immediate vs. lasting impact.)
What should you do if you realize you misunderstood a situation?
(Pause, gather more info, correct it, apologize if needed.)
Give one example of something you can control during an argument.
(Your tone, your words, your decision to walk away, your body language, etc.)
A friend ignores your text. You assume they’re mad. What might be the real problem?
(They’re busy, phone died, misunderstanding, etc.)
Why is it important to know school or legal consequences before making a decision online?
(Because actions can have long-term consequences.)
Give one example of a decision that has both a positive short-term and negative long-term consequence.
(Skipping class to hang out with friends, etc.)
Why is flexibility important in responsible decision making?
(New information can change outcomes.)
A student posts something embarrassing about you online. What parts of this situation are in your control?
Your reaction, whether you respond, who you tell, reporting it, etc.)
Why can jumping to conclusions lead to poor decisions?
(You act on incomplete or incorrect information.)
A student forwards a private picture without thinking. What information should they have considered first?
(Consent, legality, emotional harm, school discipline, etc.)
Who can be affected by one poor decision besides the person making it?
(Family, friends, school, community, future self.)
A student planned to repost something funny, but then learns it could get someone suspended. What would responsible decision making look like?
(Choosing not to repost, warning others, deleting it.)
Why is focusing on things outside your control likely to increase stress or poor decision making?
(Because it creates frustration, emotional reactions, impulsive behavior, loss of focus, etc.)
Give an example of how new information could completely change your understanding of a situation.
(Open-ended — looking for thoughtful response.)
How can values and ethics influence a decision even if “no one would find out”?
(Because character, integrity, and long-term self-respect matter.)
Why do some people ignore long-term consequences when making decisions?
(Emotion, peer pressure, impulsivity, desire for approval, etc.)
Describe a situation where someone might feel pressure to stick with a bad decision. Why is it hard to change course?
(Pride, embarrassment, peer pressure, fear of looking wrong, etc.)