Agency

Goals

1. Describe agency.

2. Excel at agency as measured by:

   1. You believe you have control over your life and the ability to act effectively.
   2. You consistently take actions and progress towards your goals.

Agency (What)

Agency is the belief in one’s ability—and the actual capacity—to make choices, take action, and take responsibility for the outcomes.

Examples

1. Statistics class was very hard and most students were angry and complaining about the professor. But Josh got to work and figured the fundamentals of Statistic out, loved the subject, and avoided the angst of his peers.

2. Susie had a product idea, but her company colleagues dismissed it and disrespected her. She launched her own startup, learned as she went, and eventually brought her idea to life.

3. Dave was hurt after discovering his girlfriend had cheated. Instead of reacting impulsively, he took ownership of his feelings and chose actions that led to personal growth and better outcomes.

4. Susie always wanted to play the guitar. So one day, she decided to make her dream a reality. She purchased a guitar, started taking lessons, and slowly she because an skilled guitarist.

Rationale

Here are some reasons why agency is worthwhile.

1. Feel optimistic, empowered, and in control.

2. Take initiative. Make things happen. Be a doer.

3. Have autonomy. Run your own show.

4. Deal with undesirable external circumstances in the best ways.

5. Avoid complaining and blaming.

Concerns:

1. Agency also means owning your failures, stress, issues, and so forth. You cannot blame others or blame contexts. This can be hard to do.

2. Agency can put pressure on one to succeed.

3. Maintaining a sense of control in challenging circumstances is difficult

Agency (How To)

Framework

Here is a framework.

1. Take Ownership:

• Own your decisions: Acknowledge that your choices, both big and small, shape your life.
• Embrace responsibility: Accept the consequences of your actions, both positive and negative.
• Learn from mistakes: View setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement.

2. Set Goals and Take Action:

• Define your aspirations: Clearly articulate what you want to achieve in life.
• Create a plan: Break down your goals into smaller, actionable steps.
• Take consistent action: Make progress towards your goals daily or weekly.

3. Develop a Growth Mindset:

• Believe in your potential: Challenge limiting beliefs and cultivate a positive self-image.
• Embrace challenges: View obstacles as opportunities for learning and growth.
• Persist through setbacks: Don’t give up when faced with difficulties.

4. Practice Self-Care:

• Prioritize well-being: Take care of your physical and mental health.
• Manage stress: Develop healthy coping mechanisms to reduce stress.
• Seek support: Connect with others who can offer encouragement and guidance.

5. Cultivate a Positive Mindset:

• Focus on gratitude: Appreciate the positive aspects of your life.
• Practice mindfulness: Stay present and aware of your thoughts and feelings.
• Surround yourself with positivity: Spend time with supportive and uplifting people.

Tips

• In some contexts (surrounding circumstances), agency can be truly hard, seemingly impossible. Viktor Frankl, in his seminal work “Man’s Search for Meaning,” spoke deeply about human agency in the context of his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. He viewed agency as a fundamental aspect of human existence: even under oppressive conditions, individuals can exert control over their inner world—choosing their attitude and finding meaning in their actions.

• Find people who care about you, support you, and encourage you to move forward in directions that align with your aspirations. Agency is hard at times, and having a strong support network is worthwhile.

• Recognize that cultures play a huge role in your abilities to take agency. Some cultures have strong control over beliefs and actions, and agency in these cultures is not welcomed. If you are in this kind of culture, leave it if you can. Otherwise, find allies or pockets of autonomy.

• When agency is hard, assume that there is a path and a solution and keep searching for it. Resist “learned helplessness,” which is the belief that there is nothing you can do to address concerns and that you just have to let bad things happen to you.