3 Actionable Steps to Exercise Personal Agency During Chaos

When the world feels like it’s spinning out of control—whether from global crises, the fractured political landscape, personal upheaval, or simply the unpredictability of life—it's easy to feel powerless. But even in the midst of chaos, one profound truth remains: we always have the ability to exercise personal agency.

Personal agency is the capacity to act with intention—to shape your experiences, choices, and ultimately, your future. It doesn't mean you can control everything around you. Rather, it's about how you choose to respond, what you focus on, and the actions you take in alignment with your values, even when the ground beneath you feels unstable.

Cultivating Personal Agency

Building personal agency starts with self-awareness—tuning into your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors without judgment. In that quiet space of awareness, it’s important to pause and honor what’s present for you. Before moving forward, give yourself permission to feel what you feel. Honoring your emotional experience is not weakness—it’s wisdom. It’s the first act of reclaiming your inner authority. This creates the space to pause and ask, “What kind of presence do I want to bring to this moment? What aligns with who I am?” Understanding your core values helps you steer through the fog. When life is uncertain, values act like a compass, helping you navigate your way back to intentional living.

Another essential component is taking responsibility for your choices—not to blame yourself for everything, but to acknowledge your role in shaping your responses. This is a practice of power, not punishment. It invites you to stop outsourcing your life to other people’s expectations, circumstances, or past experiences.

And perhaps most importantly, we must release the illusion of perfection. Exercising agency isn’t about getting it “right” every time—it’s about having the courage to act, reflect, and adjust. Life is a series of experiments, and we grow by embracing trial and error.

 3 Actionable Steps to Exercise Agency During Chaos

• Name What You Can Control
  When everything feels chaotic, ground yourself by identifying what is within your control or within your sphere of influence — your breath, your routine, your next choice. Make one intentional decision today, even if it’s small, that supports your well-being. Clarity comes from movement.
• Interrupt the Victim Narrative
  Challenge belief systems that keep you stuck—such as “I can’t do anything,” “This always happens to me,” or “I’m not good at making decisions.” These beliefs strip you of your power. Replace them with questions like, “What can I do right now?” or “What would this look like if I believed I had agency?”
• Celebrate Tiny Wins
  Exercising agency in uncertain times takes courage. Celebrate the moments you chose to speak up, set a boundary, or make a tough decision. Self-celebration reinforces your belief that your choices matter.

Let Go of What Limits You

Often, what holds us back from personal agency isn’t the chaos itself but the internal narratives we haven’t released. We cede control to others, wait for permission to act, or fear the consequences of “wrong” decisions. But you don’t need certainty to move forward. You need trust — in yourself, your values, and your ability to learn as you go.

The world may not calm down tomorrow, but you can reclaim your sense of direction today.  Let your own personal agency be your quiet revolution against chaos. Even in uncertain times, you are not powerless.