We are all outlines of hopes and unfulfilled desires waiting, wanting to be filled in. The waiting can eat away at the hope and destroy the belief that the filling in will happen. An important decision influencing our individual reaction to the waiting, longing, aching time is where we set our locus of control, that is, where our energy, motivation, inspiration, stem, power of self comes from.

Choosing an external locus of control (LOC) makes us very dependant on other people, things, and forces we can not control. So we are completely vulnerable to the winds of chance, the whims of other people, and whatever else is out there. The benefit of an external LOC is we no longer need bear the burden of responsibility for our lot in life or for actually doing anything to change. If that is a benefit.

Choosing an internal locus of control gives a relatively impermeable sense of self independent of any external forces, a security that needs nothing but our consciousness and belief in our own existence and ability to do what we can do. The drawback is a potential for egocentricity, aloofness, and the weight of the world responsibility for everything we do and the consequences of our actions.

Some claim it is not a choice, that much like a belly button, whether one has an innie or an outie LOC is part of genetics or such. I think most who think this have outies.