--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Focus on what you can control. Worrying…" description: "\"“Focus on what you can control. Worrying about anything else is just a waste of your time. Worry and regret steal our happiness and, unlike goals and a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/c-c-wood-54227_fear_focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-a_1316390.jpg" --- # Focus on what you can control. Worrying about anything… ![“Focus on what you can control. Worrying about anything else is just a waste of your time. Worry and regret steal our happiness and, unlike goals and actions, they are fruitless.” quote by C.C. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/c-c-wood-54227_fear_focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-a_1316390.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/c-c-wood-54227_fear_focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-a_1316390.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/c-c-wood-54227_fear_focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-a_1316390.jpg) > ““Focus on what you can control. Worrying about anything else is just a waste of your time. Worry and regret steal our happiness and, unlike goals and actions, they are fruitless.”” [C.C. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Concentrating on controllable aspects prevents wasted energy and improves wellbeing. **In simple terms:** Control what you can, ignore the rest. Key Takeaway Focus on controllable factors. Themes productivity mentalhealth mindfulness Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - work projects - personal goals - health habits - financial planning - studying Key Concepts agency stressreduction Questions to Reflect On - What can you control right now? - How do you let go of worries? A Different Perspective Uncontrollable events still affect outcomes; acceptance needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worrying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worrying/) ## Related quotes > [Above all else, I need to try and stay focused on what I can control, rather than worrying about the things that I can't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kerr/above-all-else-i-need-to-try-and-stay-focused-on-what-i-can-control/) [Sam Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kerr/) > [“Stop Worrying About Everything When we worry, we tend to justify it by attributing it to truly caring about something or someone. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-worrying-about-everything-when-we-worry-we-tend-to-justify-it-by/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [“When we begin to feel stressed, we create mental stories of worry and regret that compound our mental suffering. We get caught up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-greenberg/when-we-begin-to-feel-stressed-we-create-mental-stories-of-worry-and/) [Melanie Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-greenberg/) > [“Don't worry so. Regret will only make you lose sleep, not solve the problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-shepard-gray/don-t-worry-so-regret-will-only-make-you-lose-sleep-not-solve-the/) [Shelley Shepard Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-shepard-gray/) > [“Deciding not to let worry and regret get under your skin can be the most freeing decision yet!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-aman/deciding-not-to-let-worry-and-regret-get-under-your-skin-can-be-the/) [Jodi Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-aman/) > [“Worry and regret are both useless weights that provide no drag. They never did anything to slow down the planet for one goddamned second.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-smith/worry-and-regret-are-both-useless-weights-that-provide-no-drag-they/) [Andrew Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-smith/) > [I don’t have time to worry about the things that could happen. I am too busy thinking of all the happy things that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-jensen/i-don-t-have-time-to-worry-about-the-things-that-could-happen-i-am/) Luke Jensen > [If your doing your best, You wont have the time to worry about Failures and Losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-doing-your-best-you-wont-have-the-time-to-worry-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stay present. You'll always have time to worry later on if you want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/stay-present-you-ll-always-have-time-to-worry-later-on-if-you-want-to/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [I dont have time to worry about anyone's life but mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-have-time-to-worry-about-anyone-s-life-but-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't have time to worry about them when they are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sheridan/i-don-t-have-time-to-worry-about-them-when-they-are-not/) [John Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sheridan/) > [The time to worry is before you place the bet - not after the wheel is spinning. Once it spins, you forget about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-parcells/the-time-to-worry-is-before-you-place-the-bet-not-after-the-wheel-is/) [Bill Parcells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-parcells/) > [If you have time to worry you have time to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-you-have-time-to-worry-you-have-time-to-pray/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Every time I do something, I worry it's my last job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/every-time-i-do-something-i-worry-it-s-my-last-job/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [I'm too busy. I have no time for worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-m-too-busy-i-have-no-time-for-worry/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by C.C. Wood > [“You are an amazing woman. I could not have chosen a better place to let my heart rest than in your hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-wood/you-are-an-amazing-woman-i-could-not-have-chosen-a-better-place-to/) [C.C. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-wood/) > [“You are vibrant, honest, and real. You hold nothing back . That’s what I want from you . In my life, too many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-wood/you-are-vibrant-honest-and-real-you-hold-nothing-back-that-s-what-i/) [C.C. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-wood/) > [“When Lex was forceful and dominating, it turned me on. When he was sweet, I melted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-wood/when-lex-was-forceful-and-dominating-it-turned-me-on-when-he-was/) [C.C. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-wood/) > [“No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-wood/no-part-of-this-book-may-be-reproduced-scanned-or-distributed-in-any/) [C.C. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-wood/) > [“My new neighbor was stupid hot. As in, so hot it made me stupid. I’d”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-wood/my-new-neighbor-was-stupid-hot-as-in-so-hot-it-made-me-stupid-i-d/) [C.C. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-wood/) [Explore all 6 C.C. Wood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-wood/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Focus on what you can control. Worrying about anything else is just a waste of your time. Worry and regret steal our happiness and, unlike goals and actions, they are fruitless.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C.C. Wood" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-wood/focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-about-anything-else-is-just-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-wood/focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-about-anything-else-is-just-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/c-c-wood-54227_fear_focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-a_1316390.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/c-c-wood-54227_fear_focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-a_1316390.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/c-c-wood-54227_fear_focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-a_1316390.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Focus on what you can control. Worrying about anything else is just a waste of your time. Worry and regret…” — C.C. Wood", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "C.C. Wood", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-wood/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Focus on what you can control....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-wood/focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-about-anything-else-is-just-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-wood/focus-on-what-you-can-control-worrying-about-anything-else-is-just-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```