Introduction
It’s a common refrain that we hear when things go wrong in our lives: “it’s not my fault.” And while it’s certainly true that we can’t control everything that happens to us, the fact is that we have a lot more control than we often give ourselves credit for.
That sense of control—of agency—is a key component of resilience, and it’s something that we can all cultivate in our lives. Here’s why the power of agency is so important.
One of the most difficult things to deal with in life is a sense of powerlessness. When we feel like we can’t control what’s happening around us, it can be incredibly frustrating—and even debilitating.
That’s why one of the most important things you can do for your mental health is to cultivate a sense of agency in your life. The more you feel like you are in control of your life, the more resilient you will be when faced with challenges.
When we believe that things are beyond our control, it’s easy to fall into a state of helplessness. But when we feel free and self-determined, we generally flourish. That’s because feeling like we have agency gives us the motivation to take action and shape our lives in positive ways. If you want to thrive, it’s important to cultivate a sense of agency in your life.
If you want to build resilience in your life, it’s important to cultivate a sense of agency. The power of agency refers to the capacity of individuals to act independently and shape their life circumstances. By exerting free will, the person expands his options and freedom. When feeling free and self-determined, we generally flourish.
What Is Agency And Why Is It Important For Resilience
You’ve probably heard the term “agency” but what exactly is it? And why is it so important?Agency is the power to act freely and make your own choices. It’s about taking control of your life and charting your own course. Agency is the power to shape your own destiny and the belief that you can. Agency is something that we all have the potential to harness.
Why Agency Is So Important
Because it leads to resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and hardships. When you have agency, you have the power to choose how you respond to difficult situations. You can’t always control what happens to you in life, but you can control how you react to it. And that makes all the difference.
How to Develop Agency
Developing agency starts with having a Growth Mindset.
This is the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and continuous learning. It’s the opposite of a Fixed Mindset, which holds that intelligence and ability are fixed traits that cannot be changed.
- Someone with a Growth Mindset believes that they can get better at anything they set their mind to.
- They aren’t afraid of challenging themselves or making mistakes. They see setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow.
- And they’re constantly looking for ways to improve their skills and abilities. If you want to develop agency, start by cultivating a Growth Mindset.
Another way to develop agency is to set goals.
Goals give you something to aim for and work towards. They provide direction and purpose in life. Without goals, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind and lose sight of what’s really important. So, take some time to sit down and figure out what you want out of life.
What are your dreams and aspirations? Once you have a good understanding of what you want, start setting goals that will help you get there.
Agency is the power to act freely and make your own choices in life. It’s about taking control of your life and charting your own course— regardless of what obstacles come your way. And it’s something that we all have, that personal power is within us, we just need to give ourselves permission to tap into it and use it.
