What is Agency? |
“Progress relies on human agency…
Things get better because we make them better.” - Susan Rice, Fmr U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations |
“Agency is what people use to be in full command of their lives.”
— Paul Napper, Psy.D.
— Paul Napper, Psy.D.
Agency is the ability to act as an effective agent for yourself — it requires getting your mind, body, and emotions in balance to think clearly, advocate for yourself, and make choices that create positive things in your life.
Why Is Agency Critical Today?
The times we live in are exceptional. Things move so fast that we all struggle to keep up. An excess of unhealthy mental stimuli and ever-increasing demands make it hard to adapt and create the lives we most want. When frequent overwhelm interrupts our capacity to learn and grow, we lose our ability to adapt — and our personal agency is diminished.
Based on years of research and real-world application, The Power of Agency guides you to develop your “inner agent” to fully become the author of your life —
The good news is that we all have these skills within us, but they require learning and practice. The Seven Principles will get you there.
The Seven Principles of Agency
Why Is Agency Critical Today?
The times we live in are exceptional. Things move so fast that we all struggle to keep up. An excess of unhealthy mental stimuli and ever-increasing demands make it hard to adapt and create the lives we most want. When frequent overwhelm interrupts our capacity to learn and grow, we lose our ability to adapt — and our personal agency is diminished.
Based on years of research and real-world application, The Power of Agency guides you to develop your “inner agent” to fully become the author of your life —
- Problem solve, make good decisions, and act on them
- Find your voice and deeper purpose in life
- Feel more in control under stress
- Take on challenges with greater confidence at home and at work
- Follow your own path, and not the herd
The good news is that we all have these skills within us, but they require learning and practice. The Seven Principles will get you there.
The Seven Principles of Agency
- Control Stimuli -- Rid yourself of distraction and bad information to focus on the most important matters in your life.
- Associate Selectively — Surround yourself with supportive and positive people whom you can learn from.
- Move -- Keep active and aware of what your body needs to achieve vigorous mental and physical health.
- Position Yourself as a Learner — Realize you don’t know everything and open yourself to new information and ideas to grow as a person.
- Manage Your Emotions and Beliefs -- Recognize that feelings and beliefs are not facts so you shouldn’t act on impulse or on pre-conceived notions.
- Check Your Intuition -- Learn to more fully access your intuition and use it to assess situations before taking action.
- Deliberate, then Act -- Consider options and possibilities logically before deciding on your best course of action.