The Fight for Agency

Do you control your life, or does your life control you?

Every day, you’re faced with hundreds of choices—some small, some life-altering. But are they really yours?

Without agency, you risk becoming passive, reactive, and disconnected from your own purpose.  

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What Is Agency?

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Agency is the ability to make and act on choices aligned with your values.

Jean-Paul Sartre in Being and Nothingness, discusses a concept called radical freedom which posits that no matter the circumstance, we are responsible for our choices and actions.

This concept is powerful. It can be seen as a necessary belief and mindset to have in order to build and maintain agency in one’s life. Without agency, you risk being dictated by external influences. With agency, you shape the life you want to lead.  

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Modern Threats to Agency

Humanity has had to deal with various threats to agency since the dawn of civilization:
- Cultural conformity  
- Dogmatic belief systems  
- Rigid social structures  
- Economic dependence

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Today with the advancement of technology and information a new set of threats have appeared:  
- Technological Overload: algorithms shape what we see, think, and buy.  
- The Illusion of Choice: too many options can paralyze decision-making, making us outsource our power.  
- Automation: we let advancements do  things for us that we could do that would lead to greater meaning in our lives.  

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As a species, we do not have a handle on these threats. It is all too new. But, it all starts from an individual need to take charge of one’s life.

How do we set boundaries with social media and technology? How do we remind ourselves of what is important and meaningful? How do we maintain a certain level of control over our lives when others would pressure us to do differently?

Progress for the sake of it, isn’t.

So, take a moment to answer the following questions and reflect on the answers:

- What’s one major decision you’ve made recently? Was it truly yours?  
- Do your daily habits serve your goals or someone else’s priorities?  
- When do you feel most in control of your life? What circumstances make you feel powerless?

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Putting it into Practice

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When I first started mindfulness training and exercise I logged everything I did. Sometimes, bringing attention to something that would normally operate in the background, like making choices, is a good way to bring attention to those actions.    
Spend one day logging your choices. For each, ask:

- Was this a reaction or a deliberate act?  
- Did this align with my long-term values or goals?  
- Who or what influenced this decision (e.g., ads, peer pressure, fatigue)?  
 
On top of that, I think starting your morning intentionally sets the tone for the rest of the day.    
What’s one thing you do in the morning that is a deliberate, productive, meaningful and intentional act? Reply to this newsletter and let me know!

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Conclusion

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Fighting for agency is the first step toward reclaiming your humanity. Each deliberate choice you make strengthens your ability to lead an authentic life.

The valiant fight begins with reclaiming your choices. Will you fight for yours?

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