Low sense of agency
A low sense of agency is the belief that one's own actions have little impact on the outcome or change in the situation.
Definition
It involves the belief that one cannot effectively take action or influence an outcome. When it is low, a person more easily gives up, avoids trying, or attributes the result solely to external factors. Reconstruction begins with small, specific experiences of impact.
Key ideas
- Self-efficacy
- Experience of influence
- Little evidence of action
Practice and life
Every day, do one small action whose effect you can see or measure. Write down: what I did and what effect it had.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to expect immediate certainty. The second mistake is confusing agency with full control.
> Agency increases from evidence of low impact.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What do I have real influence on?
- What is the least amount of evidence of agency I can create today?
- Do I require control instead of influence?