Okay, so you’ve set your goals and you’re all amped up to crush them. At first, you’re on fire, making big moves and feeling unstoppable. But as time goes on, that initial surge of motivation starts to wane. Suddenly, procrastinating and making excuses seems a whole lot easier than putting in the work. Believe me, I’ve been in that slump more times than I care to admit.
But there’s a powerful concept that can help you push through those motivation dips and stay on track for the long haul. It’s called the Locus Rule, and it’s all about understanding how your beliefs about control shape your drive and determination.
Locus just means location or place. And the Locus Rule, coined by psychologist Dr. Julian B. Rotter, looks at the two different places people believe the control over their life comes from – internal or external. People with an internal locus of control believe that they are the captains of their own destiny. They see their efforts and choices as the main determinants of their outcomes. On the flip side, those with an external locus of control attribute what happens to them to outside forces – luck, circumstances, other people.
A famous study by Claudia M. Mueller and Carol Dweck at Columbia University really highlighted how these beliefs play out in real life. They took a bunch of fifth graders, had them solve puzzles, and then praised them in two different ways. One group was told they succeeded because they were smart. The other was told they did well because of their hard work.
The results were striking. In the next round, the “smart” group shied away from challenges and showed less motivation. But the “hard work” group? They embraced the tougher puzzles, worked longer, and even enjoyed the process more. Simply shifting the perceived locus of control to their own efforts juiced up their drive.
And that’s the essence of the Locus Rule. The more you believe you have the power to shape your life through your own actions, the more motivated you’ll be to give it your all. You know that what you do matters, so you’re more likely to keep on doing.
Now, that’s not to say an internal locus of control is some magic bullet. Life is complex and outside factors absolutely play a role. But when you believe that your work ethic, your choices, your strategies are the biggest influences on your success, you stay hungry. You know that if you see someone killing it, you can follow their blueprint. If you fail, you don’t throw up your hands and blame the world. You look at what you can do differently next time.
So how do you strengthen that internal locus of control? Start by noticing your explanatory style. When something goes wrong, do you default to blaming external culprits or do you look at your own role first? Reframing setbacks as opportunities to adjust your approach reinforces the belief that you’re steering the ship.
Also, zoom out and connect your daily grind to your larger mission. When you have a strong why, a core purpose that really resonates with you, you’re naturally more driven. The tedious parts feel worth it because you know they’re getting you closer to that meaningful goal.
And when that couch is calling your name and you’re SO not feeling it, remember this: motivation often comes AFTER taking action, not before. Just get started and trust that the momentum will kick in. With an internal locus of control, you know that showing up and doing the reps is what yields results.
The Locus Rule isn’t about having some endless fountain of motivation. It’s about believing in your own power to shape your outcomes, even when the going gets tough. It’s about adopting a growth mindset and taking responsibility for your journey. When you live by the Locus Rule, you’re not a passive victim of circumstance. You’re an active agent in your own life. And that’s the most motivating stance of all.