personal-growth

High Agency: The Trait That Separates Doers From Waiters

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What Is High Agency?

High Agency is the difference between people who wait and people who make things happen.

It’s not about talent, resources, or luck. It’s about how you respond when someone says: “That can’t be done.”

High Agency people ask: “How can I make this happen?”
Low Agency people say: “I tried, but they said no.”

The Wright brothers exemplified this perfectly. When The New York Times declared humans wouldn’t fly for a million years, two bicycle makers taught themselves aerodynamics, built their own wind tunnel, and were flying four years later.

No degrees. No funding. No permission. Just relentless problem-solving.

The Science Behind Agency

High Agency isn’t just motivational speak—it’s grounded in decades of psychological research.

Self-Efficacy Research: Albert Bandura’s landmark work shows that believing you can affect outcomes is foundational to motivation and performance.[^1] Nine large-scale meta-analyses confirm that self-efficacy beliefs significantly predict workplace motivation and performance.[^2] People with high self-efficacy view challenges as problems to master, not threats to avoid.[^3]

Growth Mindset: Carol Dweck’s research demonstrates that people who believe abilities can be developed (growth mindset) outperform those who view abilities as fixed.[^4] Students taught they could “grow their brains” showed marked academic improvement,[^5] and in workplace studies, growth mindset cultures show higher innovation and employee engagement.[^6]

Related Concepts: High Agency overlaps with what psychologists call “proactivity” (acting in advance rather than reacting), “grit” (perseverance toward long-term goals), and “perceived control” (believing you can achieve desired outcomes).[^7]

The research is clear: Agency is both measurable and developable.

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Why This Matters Now

Traditional skills are table stakes. Agency is the differentiator.

Two people with identical technical skills deliver radically different results. The one with High Agency:

  • Creates opportunities others don’t see
  • Navigates obstacles that stop peers
  • Delivers despite imperfect conditions
  • Generates 10x impact with the same resources

In a world of rapid change and ambiguous problems, the ability to figure things out without explicit instructions is the most valuable skill you can have.

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Why is Journaling Impactful?

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Journaling is impactful because it creates a unique space where multiple powerful psychological processes converge:

It externalises internal chaos. The simple act of moving thoughts from your mind to paper transforms abstract worries into manageable, concrete problems. This shift from internal rumination to external observation gives you psychological distance and clarity you can’t achieve through thinking alone.

It activates neuroplasticity (brain’s ability to change and adapt due to experience). Writing engages both analytical and creative brain regions simultaneously, literally rewiring neural pathways. The physical act of writing (especially by hand) strengthens memory formation and emotional processing in ways that typing or just thinking cannot match.

It breaks the illusion of permanence. When you write down fears, anger, or confusion, you often discover they’re more temporary and changeable than they felt in your head. Seeing “I’m terrible at everything” on paper reveals its absurdity in a way that thinking it doesn’t.

It creates a witness to your life. Journaling makes you both the observer and the observed, developing a kind of compassionate self-awareness. You begin treating yourself with the same curiosity and kindness you’d show a friend telling you their story.

It builds emotional resilience. Regular journaling literally practices the skill of processing difficult emotions. Each time you write through pain, confusion, or challenge, you strengthen your capacity to handle future difficulties.

It reveals your authentic voice. Without audience or judgment, your true thoughts, values, and desires emerge. Many people discover who they really are through journaling, separate from who they think they should be.

It creates forward momentum. Writing clarifies not just what is, but what could be, naturally leading to insights about next steps and positive change.

“The most important thing you learn from writing is about yourself.” — Ray Bradbury

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

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