Unleash Your High Agency: The Key to Thriving in Life and Work

Owning Your Power

Have you ever felt like life is happening to you, rather than through you?
Like no matter how much effort you put in, the outcomes never quite align with what you really want in life?

That sense of powerlessness can be overwhelming. It’s easy to think that circumstances, other people, or even luck are the deciding factors in how far we go, or what we accomplish in our lives.

But the truth is: your power to thrive lies within you. It does now, and it always has.

For years in my youth, I lived in a mindset of low agency, stuck in a cycle of blaming external forces and always waiting for “the right time” to act on the important drivers of my life.

I thought success hinged on having the perfect plan, ideal conditions, or someone else’s permission to move forward. The problem? Those ideal moments rarely arrived, and I stayed exactly where I was—frustrated, stuck, and uncertain about my future.

Everything changed when I discovered the concept of high agency. It wasn’t just a cliché buzzword or a motivational catchphrase; it was the missing piece.

High agency taught me that I had the power to act decisively, bend circumstances to my will, and create the life I truly desired. I stopped waiting for life to happen and started making it happen.

Living with high agency isn’t just about action—it’s about transformation.

It’s a mindset shift that impacts every area of your life, from your career to your health, your relationships to your sense of purpose. When you embrace high agency, you move from a place of limitation to one of boundless potential.

Today, I want to go deeper into what it means to live with high agency, why it’s one of my top core values, and how adopting this approach can reshape your personal and professional life.

I’ll share actionable strategies to help you cultivate the traits of a high agency person and liberate yourself from the patterns that keep you tethered to a low agency mindset.

It’s time to take the reins and create a life driven by intention and purpose. Let’s dive in.

What is High Agency?

High agency is the belief and practice of owning your choices and taking control of your life, no matter the circumstances. It’s a mindset that refuses to accept limitations imposed by others or by situations. Instead of being passively carried by the current, high agency individuals actively steer their course, even when the waters are rough.

Characteristics of High Agency Individuals:

• • Creative Problem-Solvers: They don’t wait for ideal conditions or perfect solutions. Instead, they leverage the resources at hand to make progress, finding unconventional approaches to overcome obstacles.
  • Resilient Under Pressure: Challenges and setbacks are not reasons to stop but opportunities to grow. High agency individuals thrive under pressure, maintaining focus and determination when others might give up.
  • Resourceful and Adaptable: Life is unpredictable, but high agency individuals pivot and evolve their strategies to meet their goals, adapting to changes with grace and ingenuity.
  • Courageous and Decisive: They take bold actions aligned with their values, even in the face of uncertainty. Fear doesn’t paralyze them; it fuels their resolve.

Imagine navigating a complex maze. A low agency mindset waits for someone to come along and guide them or for the maze to magically rearrange itself.

High agency, on the other hand, is like bringing your own tools to the maze—climbing over walls, finding hidden doors, or even creating a new exit. It’s not about waiting for ideal circumstances but crafting your path and making progress no matter what stands in the way.

Why Does High Agency Matter?

Living with high agency doesn’t mean ignoring reality or recklessly taking risks. It means believing in your ability to influence outcomes and embracing the power to adapt and grow. Whether in your personal life, your career, or your health journey, this mindset empowers you to navigate life with confidence and purpose. It’s about refusing to settle for “good enough” and striving for a life that truly aligns with your values and goals.

As you reflect on these traits, ask yourself: Where in my life could I start embracing a high agency mindset? The answer might just lead to the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for.

 The Opposite of High Agency—Low Agency

Low agency is the mindset of passivity, where individuals relinquish control over their choices and accept circumstances as immovable facts.

It’s a pattern of thinking and behaving that prioritizes safety and comfort over growth and change. Low agency individuals often outsource their decisions to others, avoid responsibility, and let life happen to them rather than through their actions.

Thought Patterns of Low Agency People:

• • Victim Mentality: A belief that life’s challenges are unfair burdens inflicted by external forces. This mindset focuses on what’s wrong rather than what can be done.
  • Dependency on Others: Constantly seeking validation or direction, low agency individuals rely heavily on others to guide their path or approve their decisions, making them hesitant to take initiative.
  • Fixed Mindset: A fear of failure keeps them rooted in familiar habits. They view abilities and outcomes as fixed, rather than seeing challenges as opportunities for growth.

Behavioral Patterns of Low Agency:

• • Procrastination: Instead of taking action, low agency individuals delay decisions and tasks, waiting for perfect conditions that never arrive.
  • Blame-Shifting: When faced with difficulties, they point fingers rather than reflect inward, avoiding the discomfort of accountability.
  • Avoidance of Change: The thought of leaving a comfort zone feels overwhelming, leading to stagnation in personal and professional growth.

Why Low Agency Leads to Stagnation:

Familiarity can become a cage.

The comfort of the known often feels safer than stepping into the unknown, even when the current situation isn’t serving you. But this perceived safety is deceptive. Without challenges—or tactical stress—to push us, we remain stagnant.

Growth requires discomfort, and by avoiding it, low agency individuals limit their potential and deny themselves the opportunity for transformation.

Imagine staying in a job that no longer fulfills you, simply because it feels secure. Or clinging to habits that drain your energy because change feels too daunting. These patterns keep you rooted in mediocrity, blocking the path to a fuller, more empowered life.

A Moment for Reflection:

How often have you stayed in a situation because it felt familiar, even though deep down you knew it wasn’t helping you thrive? Could breaking free from that familiarity be the key to unlocking the next chapter of your life?

Adopting a high agency mindset is nothing short of transformative. It shifts the way you approach challenges, relationships, and opportunities, allowing you to step into a more empowered and intentional version of yourself. High agency gives you the tools to reshape your reality, both personally and professionally, by owning your choices and embracing change.

High Agency in Personal Life

When you cultivate high agency, your personal life begins to align with your values and goals. You stop settling for less and start creating the life you deserve.

• • Breaking Free from Toxic Relationships: High agency empowers you to set boundaries and recognize when relationships are draining your energy. You stop tolerating people who don’t respect or support your growth and instead create space for those who uplift and inspire you.

• • Stepping Out of Comfort Zones: Growth doesn’t happen in the safety of familiarity. High agency encourages you to take calculated risks—whether it’s traveling alone, trying a new hobby, or having a difficult conversation. Each step outside your comfort zone strengthens your resilience and expands your perspective.

• • Embracing New Opportunities: High agency individuals don’t wait for opportunities to fall into their laps; they create them.  Whether it’s launching a new business, signing up for a course that develops a skill, or finally pursuing that passion project you’ve been dreaming about, high agency is about aligning your actions with your long-term vision.

For instance, starting a business might feel overwhelming at first, but it’s a prime example of taking ownership of your potential and building something that reflects your values and aspirations.

Moving to a new city or pivoting to a different career can be daunting, but high agency women lean into the unknown. They see these shifts as opportunities to grow, evolve, and rewrite the narrative of their lives. These aren’t reckless decisions—they’re calculated risks, backed by a mindset of resilience and resourcefulness.

Ask Yourself: What opportunity have you been waiting for? What’s stopping you from creating it? It might be as simple as dedicating time each week to research your next step or as bold as starting a side hustle. Whatever it is, the key is to take that first intentional step today.

Remember, opportunities rarely knock; they’re built. By embracing high agency, you become the architect of your own success. You don’t just wait for the right moment—you create it.

High Agency in Professional Life

Professionally, high agency can elevate your career from ordinary to extraordinary. It’s about taking initiative, advocating for yourself, and refusing to let obstacles define your path.

• • Advocating for Yourself at Work: High agency gives you the courage to speak up about your contributions, ask for that promotion, or negotiate a raise. You stop shrinking yourself to fit in and start owning the value you bring to the table.

• • Solving Challenges Creatively: When others see a roadblock, high agency individuals see an opportunity. They use their resourcefulness and adaptability to find solutions, often turning constraints into catalysts for innovation.

• • Setting Boundaries: High agency isn’t about saying “yes” to everything; it’s about knowing when to say “no.” Whether it’s declining a project that doesn’t align with your goals or protecting your personal time, setting boundaries helps you focus on what truly matters.

Picture a work environment where you feel undervalued. Instead of passively accepting the status quo, a high agency approach empowers you to initiate a conversation with your manager, present your achievements, and propose changes that benefit both you and the team.

The Pillars of Transformation: Adaptability, Resilience, and Courage

At the heart of high agency are three essential traits: adaptability, resilience, and courage.

• • Adaptability allows you to pivot when plans change. Life is unpredictable, and high agency ensures you can navigate its twists and turns without losing momentum.
• • Resilience helps you bounce back stronger after setbacks. Challenges become stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks.
• • Courage drives you to take bold actions despite fear. It’s what enables you to step into the unknown and trust in your ability to handle whatever comes your way.

“When you stop waiting for permission and start taking action, you create momentum that reshapes your life.”

A Question to Consider

What’s one area of your life—personal or professional—where adopting a high agency mindset could create a meaningful transformation? Take a moment to reflect on how shifting your perspective and taking ownership could open new doors.

Adopting a high agency mindset is a game-changer. It equips you with the confidence, clarity, and courage to take control of your circumstances and create a life that aligns with your deepest values. High agency transforms both your personal and professional life, empowering you to make decisions with intention and resilience, no matter the obstacles.

Taking Action: Momentum Fuels Change

High agency is about more than just mindset; it’s about action. Each intentional choice—no matter how small—creates momentum. And that momentum reshapes your life in ways you might not have imagined.

“When you stop waiting for permission and start taking action, you create momentum that reshapes your life.”

Reflective Question: Where Could High Agency Transform You?

Think about one area of your life—personal or professional—where adopting a high agency mindset could spark transformation. What’s one bold action you could take today to step closer to the life you truly want?

Cultivating High Agency—Steps to Take Today

High agency isn’t an inherent trait; it’s a mindset you can cultivate through intentional actions and consistent effort. It’s about shifting from passivity to empowerment, from reaction to action. Below are six actionable steps to help you build a high agency mindset and transform your approach to life.

1. 1. Awareness: Recognize Your Current Mindset

Change starts with awareness. Take an honest look at your thoughts and behaviors. Are you often waiting for circumstances to improve before taking action? Do you find yourself blaming external factors for where you are? Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward breaking free from them.

Example: Think about a time when you said, “I’ll start when the timing is right.” Did that moment ever come? High agency begins by realizing that the right time is now, and the power to start lies within you.

Ask Yourself: What mindset are you currently operating from—high agency or low agency?

1. 2. Reflection: Identify Areas Where You’ve Been Passive or Reactive

Reflect on areas of your life where you’ve been coasting or avoiding responsibility. It could be in your career, relationships, health, or even daily habits. Acknowledge where you’ve allowed external circumstances to dictate your actions and decide where you want to take back control.

Example: Are you staying in a job you’ve outgrown because it feels safe? Or avoiding a fitness routine because you’re waiting for “motivation”? These are opportunities to shift from passive to proactive.

Tip: Write down one area in your life where you’ve been reactive instead of intentional, and brainstorm ways to change it.

1. 3. Take Ownership: Start with Small, Intentional Decisions to Build Confidence

High agency isn’t about overhauling your entire life overnight. It’s about starting small and proving to yourself that you are capable of change. Each intentional decision you make builds confidence and reinforces your ability to influence outcomes.

Example: Instead of saying, “I don’t have time to work out,” schedule a 10-minute walk during your lunch break. Small wins lead to bigger victories.

Pro Tip: Celebrate your progress, no matter how minor it seems. Confidence is built through consistent action, not perfection.

1. 4. Embrace Tactical Stress: Push Yourself into Situations That Challenge Your Comfort Zones

Growth thrives on tactical stress—situations that challenge your limits without overwhelming you.

This might mean saying yes to presenting at work, tackling a tough conversation, or even trying a new fitness class. The discomfort is temporary, but the growth it inspires is lasting.

Example: Imagine you’ve been avoiding a conversation with a family member about boundaries—perhaps it’s about how they handle certain sensitive topics or how much time you spend together. Embracing tactical stress means sitting down and initiating that discussion, even though it feels uncomfortable.

By addressing it directly, you create the opportunity for clarity, progress, and a more authentic connection built on mutual understanding.

Ask Yourself: What’s one thing I’ve been avoiding that, if addressed, could lead to growth?

1. 5. Invest in Growth: Continuously Learn and Seek Knowledge

High agency individuals prioritize learning as a tool for empowerment. Read books, take courses, seek mentorship, or explore new hobbies. Expanding your knowledge fuels creativity and equips you with the tools to navigate challenges with confidence.

Example: If you feel stuck in your career, invest in professional development by learning a new skill or networking within your industry. Knowledge opens doors that passivity keeps closed.

Pro Tip: Dedicate 15 minutes a day to reading or listening to something that expands your understanding of a topic you care about.

1. 6. Stay Disciplined: Commit to Aligning Your Actions with Your Goals

Discipline is the bridge between your intentions and your reality. It’s about staying aligned with your goals even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. This means showing up consistently, prioritizing what matters, and resisting the urge to revert to old habits.

Example: You’ve set a goal to improve your health. Discipline means meal prepping on Sundays, even when you’d rather relax, because you know it supports your long-term vision.

Ask Yourself: Are my daily actions aligned with the goals I say I want to achieve?

Final Thought: Your High Agency Journey Begins Now

Cultivating high agency is a journey, not a destination. It’s about making intentional choices each day that move you closer to the life you envision.

Start small. Stay consistent. And watch how these changes ripple through every area of your life.

What’s one small, intentional action you can take today to step into your power and embrace a high agency mindset?

Letting Go of Low Agency Behaviors

To cultivate high agency, it’s essential to release the low agency behaviors and mindsets that hold you back. These patterns, though familiar and seemingly safe, keep you stuck in cycles of passivity and self-limitation. Letting go isn’t just about discarding habits; it’s about creating the space for growth, gratitude, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Let Go of Dependency on Others

Dependency on others for validation, direction, or decision-making diminishes your ability to own your power. High agency is about taking responsibility for your choices and actions. This doesn’t mean ignoring collaboration or support; rather, it’s about knowing that your path forward ultimately depends on you.

Example: Instead of waiting for a partner, friend, or manager to approve your ideas, take initiative. Whether it’s planning a solo trip, starting a side hustle, or advocating for yourself at work, show yourself that you’re capable of steering your own ship.

Ask Yourself: Where am I relying too heavily on others to make decisions I could make for myself?

Release the Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is one of the most paralyzing low agency behaviors. It keeps you from taking risks, pursuing opportunities, and stepping outside your comfort zone. High agency individuals understand that failure is not the opposite of success but a crucial part of the process.

Example: Think about a time you avoided trying something new because you were afraid of failing. What did you miss out on? Now imagine how different the outcome could have been if you’d seen failure as a stepping stone rather than a roadblock.

Pro Tip: Reframe failure as feedback. Each setback is an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow stronger.

Stop Resisting Change

Change is uncomfortable, but it’s also inevitable. Resisting it only prolongs stagnation and denies you the chance to evolve. Low agency thrives on clinging to the familiar, even when it no longer serves you. High agency, on the other hand, embraces change as a catalyst for transformation.

Example: If you’ve been resisting a career change because it feels daunting, ask yourself: What’s the cost of staying in a role that limits my potential? The energy you’re using to resist change could be redirected toward building a future that excites you.

Reflective Question: What’s one change you’ve been avoiding that could lead to growth if you embraced it?

How Letting Go Creates Space for Growth and Gratitude

When you let go of low agency behaviors, you’re not just shedding limitations; you’re opening the door to possibilities. Letting go creates space for clarity, purpose, and empowerment. It allows you to move forward unburdened, with the freedom to focus on what truly matters.

Moreover, releasing what no longer serves you fosters gratitude. It shifts your perspective from what you lack to what you have, helping you appreciate the present while building a foundation for the future. Gratitude, in turn, fuels the high agency mindset by reinforcing your belief in the abundance of opportunities available to you.

Example: Letting go of an unfulfilling relationship might feel painful initially, but it clears the way for connections that align with your values and bring joy to your life.

What’s Holding You Back?

Low agency behaviors thrive on fear and familiarity. High agency thrives on courage and clarity. By releasing the patterns that no longer serve you, you’re not only transforming your mindset but also your entire life.

Ask Yourself: What’s one low agency behavior you can let go of today to make space for the life you truly want?

Living with high agency isn’t about perfection or having all the answers. It’s about leading a life of intention, where every choice you make reflects your inner strength and alignment with your purpose. It’s the ability to face challenges with resilience, adapt to change with grace, and approach each day with the conviction that you have the power to shape your journey.

When you embrace high agency, you’re stepping into a life of relentless growth and empowerment. You stop waiting for permission or the “perfect moment” and start taking ownership of your time, energy, and potential. This is the essence of thriving—it’s a way of being that allows you to navigate life’s uncertainties with clarity and confidence.

Ask Yourself: What’s one area of your life where you can stop hesitating and start taking intentional action? Maybe it’s your career, health, or relationships. Or perhaps it’s a small habit you’ve been meaning to change. Whatever it is, the path to transformation begins with a single decision.

Now is the time to act. Step forward, not back. Choose action over excuses. The lioness doesn’t wait for the world to align; she creates her path with instinct and courage