Humans have a tendency to focus on all the wrong things. We fixate on things that don’t matter, and things that we can’t control. Of course, if it doesn’t matter, focusing on it is pointless; and if we can’t control it, focusing on it is futile. What would happen if instead of trying to focus on everything, we only focused on the things that really mattered that we can also control? For example, we can’t control the markets, but we can control how we react to the markets. We can’t fix global economic problems, but we can tackle our own financial issues. This sketch from Carl Richards hits the nail on the head when it comes to where we place our attention. Ultimately, you have to ask the question: “Does this really matter, and do I actually have control?” Based on the answer, you’ll know whether it’s worth your time and energy.