Having an external locus of control as a cognitive distortion is like thinking that you're a boat being tossed around in the sea, and you have no control over where you're going. In other words, people with this type of thinking believe that everything that happens to them is controlled by external factors, such as luck, fate, or other people, and they have no influence over these events.

For instance, if you study hard for a test and get a good grade, but you think, "I just got lucky," that's an example of an external locus of control. You're attributing your success to luck, not to your own efforts.

Or if you're late for work and you blame the traffic, the alarm clock, the weather, or anything else besides yourself, that's also an external locus of control. You're placing the responsibility for your actions outside of yourself.

This type of thinking can be problematic because it can make you feel helpless and out of control of your own life. It's like always being a passenger, never the driver. It can prevent you from taking responsibility for your actions and from believing in your ability to make positive changes in your life.

Remember, while there are certainly things in life we can't control, like the weather or other people, there are many things we can influence, such as our actions, our attitudes, and how we respond to situations.