Agency.

“Essentially, what I’m talking about, what I’m circling ever nearer and nearer to is agency. Or maybe authority: owning one’s life, for better and for worse, saying out loud, ‘This is who I am, this is who I’m not, this is what I want, this is what I’m leaving behind.’” -Shauna Niequist, Present Over Perfect

I just finished Shauna Niequist’s book Present Over Perfect. So many thoughts. So many good nuggets. But I think one of the key nuggets I walked away with is the idea of Agency: of knowing who you are and who you’re not.

My mid- to late-twenties have been a messy discovery of these things. I think that’s what your twenties are for. I think the twenties is also a sloppy searching for purpose and what your life’s about. You discover “fun” isn’t all there is and doesn’t fulfill.

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

• Write out your purpose, mission and goals for your life.
  • Your purpose should be big- what everything in your life hinges on and it will most likely not change (I was going to say never, but that intimidated me a bit and might have the same effect on you).
  • Your mission should be what you personally do to live out this mission. Although numerous people can have the same purpose how they live it out is going to look very different due to different personalities, life experiences, interests and skills.  
  • Your goals should be practical and short-term ways to live out your mission. I try to set goals seasonally.