Drawing on Martin Seligman’s book Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress, Chris Libby explores agency, the belief that we can achieve our goals, and why Seligman sees it as both a force behind human progress and something we can cultivate in our own lives.
Agency, he argues, can help us persist through obstacles, explore new possibilities, and improve our well-being.
At its core, Seligman describes agency as having three building blocks: efficacy, optimism, and imagination. Libby explores practical ways to strengthen each while also recognizing the importance of using agency wisely.
Key ideas:
- Build efficacy through small wins: Setting and accomplishing even small goals can reinforce the belief that our actions make a difference, with successes building on one another over time.
- Challenge your inner critic: To strengthen optimism after setbacks, Seligman recommends questioning catastrophic interpretations, considering the worst and best possible outcomes, identifying what is most likely, and making a plan for dealing with it.
- Give imagination room to grow: Practices such as finding multiple solutions to a problem, exploring unusual uses for everyday objects, engaging in creative activities, or imagining and writing about your best possible future can encourage divergent thinking and expand the possibilities you see.
- Aim for wiser agency: Agency has limits. Too much efficacy can make us believe everything is within our control, while unchecked optimism and imagination can distort reality. Seligman’s answer is not less agency, but “wiser agency”, cultivating efficacy, optimism, and imagination while remaining aware of their limitations.
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