Sometimes external circumstances (luck) play a major role in results-for the good and for the not-so-great.

Blaming external circumstances or other people will only make you look weak and even less reliable.

When external circumstances reduce their sense of control - during times of economic turmoil, for example - their preference for a hierarchical workplace grows.

Sometimes external circumstances conspire to create an environment where the unthinkable becomes thinkable.

The pupils then discussed the problem, empathising and asking what could be done to change things, both in terms of the person's inner beliefs and his or her external circumstances.