Good morning. It’s Monday, and everything can start to feel urgent fast. Messages, meetings, decisions. All of them asking for your attention. It’s easy to forget where your control actually lives. Today’s read is a quick check-in on that. A reminder that even when the pace picks up, the way you make sense of things can shape what you do next.

People explain outcomes in life in different ways. Some start with their own choices. Others focus more on what was happening around them. Most of us go back and forth. This reflection explores how those perspectives shape what we see and what we do next.

How We Make Sense of Things

There’s a concept in psychology called locus of control. It’s about how people explain the things that happen in their lives, and whether they see outcomes as mostly shaped by what they do or by what’s happening around them.

People with a more internal locus of control tend to believe that their choices, effort, and habits make a difference.
People with a more external locus of control are more likely to see things as shaped by other people, systems, circumstances, or timing.

Locus of control exists on a spectrum, not as a fixed category. A fixed category would mean you’re permanently one type, either internal or external, like a personality box you stay in for life. But that’s not how this works.

Psychologists describe locus of control as more of a continuum. It’s not all or nothing. People shift depending on the situation. You might feel in control when it comes to your own decisions, but not in situations where other people are driving the outcome. It can also change over time, shaped by experience, environment, or simply what season of life you’re in.

But leaning internal more often can offer something valuable: the belief that what you do actually matters.

When you believe your input counts, you’re more likely to take initiative, stay engaged, or make a move, even without a guaranteed outcome.

This isn’t about having full control or expecting perfect outcomes. It’s just about paying attention to where your focus goes when something doesn’t go as planned.

That doesn’t mean ignoring external realities. Systems exist. Timing matters. Other people play a role. But believing you have some influence within all of that is often what helps you take the next step.

Locus of control isn’t a personality type. It’s a lens. And like any lens, it shapes what you notice and what you decide to do next.

So when something feels off track, it might help to ask:
Where am I placing the control, and is that helping me move forward?

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The Curiosity Edit

Today’s Insight: Mind-Body Connection

The Pain-Soothing Power of Touch

Even brief, supportive touch from someone you trust can ease real physical pain. A brain imaging study found it doesn’t just feel comforting. It actually reduces activity in pain-processing regions.

The Bright Side

There’s plenty of noise in the world, but here we focus on the good. The Bright Side is where positivity, progress, and proof of human kindness take center stage. Because no matter what’s happening out there, there’s always light to be found.

Deli Owner Rewards Hard-Working Students With Snacks, Cash, And A Whole Lot Of Encouragement

A Staten Island deli owner is turning report cards into rewards. Through his “Grades for Grabs” initiative, Wail Alselwi gives snacks, cash, and encouragement to local students who work hard in school, building real connection and pride in the community. Read the full story here.

Modern Living:

The Way We Remember Now

Secondhand Memory

We outsource memory now. Photos know more about our past than we do. They remember what we wore, who was there, what we smiled through. We scroll to remember, then forget what we were looking for.

Health & Wellness

Motivation, Mindset, and the Science Behind What Moves Us

From better sleep to breaking bad habits, these insights explore the deeper forces that shape how we grow, age, and stay well.

Why Exercise Helps You Sleep and Why Sleep Is Good for Your Fitness Routine
This synergistic relationship is backed by science: quality sleep enhances recovery and performance, while regular physical activity promotes deeper, more restorative rest.

Want Your Kid to Be Ultra Successful? Don’t Do This
New research reveals that overpraising effort without fostering strategy or reflection may undermine long-term achievement.

Tips for Overcoming Barriers to Developing Healthy Habits
Experts share realistic strategies for tackling common roadblocks like time constraints, lack of motivation, and decision fatigue.

Why Are We So Afraid of Aging?
Aging anxiety is tied to cultural values and personal identity. Psychologists unpack how to reframe the experience of growing older.

How Long Does It Take to See Results From Working Out?
While timelines vary, fitness experts offer a realistic look at when to expect physical changes and how to stay motivated along the way.

The Conscious Plate:

Food, Nutrition & Elevated Living

Clearing Confusion in the Kitchen

These stories cut through food noise, from misunderstood oils to everyday produce, with science-backed insights and practical takeaways.

Worried About Seed Oils? Studies Say Linoleic Acid May Actually Lower Disease Risk
New findings challenge the fear around seed oils, pointing to potential benefits of linoleic acid when consumed in the right context.

Try This MD's Favorite Nut When You Need A Sweet-Yet-Satisfying Snack
A doctor’s go-to snack offers a naturally sweet crunch and delivers a healthy balance of fats, fiber, and satisfaction.

Can Sugar Give You Wrinkles? What The Science Says About Collagen & Sugar
Emerging research explores how sugar affects collagen and what it might mean for your skin over time.

The Surprising Way Five Days Of Junk Food Impacts Your Brain
A short stint of ultra-processed eating may have more noticeable effects on cognition and mood than you’d expect.

Fresh vs. Frozen Produce: When To Pick One Over The Other
Both have benefits, but knowing when to reach for fresh or frozen can help you get the most nutrients and flavor.

The Next Chapter

This month in The Next Chapter, we’re keeping things simple and sharp.
We’re bringing you ideas to help you think a little differently about what you engage with, what you react to, and what you prioritize.

What We Think Is Obvious

Cultural contrast isn’t just about different values. It’s about the unspoken assumptions we carry into interactions. What feels easy to one person might feel loaded to another. Being in the same place doesn’t mean we’re having the same experience.

Pass It On

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