Growing up in 4-H and FFA, my siblings and I spent summers taking our animals to the county fair.
Along with sheep and horses, we had Ma Chow, a 200-pound sow.
One year, I decided to plant a garden—corn, tomatoes, carrots. I worked for weeks, clearing land, pulling weeds, and watering the soil – Looking forward to harvesting in a few weeks.
As it turned out, Ma Chow had other plans.
When we drove up our driveway from school, we found that she had escaped her pen and was happily wallowing in my carefully cultivated (now ruined) garden.
I started wailing, “All my hard work down the drain.”
My dad, ever the stoic, said, “Crying won’t undo it. The question is, ‘What are you going to do about it?“
He was right.
When something happens we don’t like, we can complain about it, rant and rave – or we can get busy doing something about it.
You may know I’ve been working on a book about AGEncy™ for the past months.
My definition of AGEncy™ – up until now – was the “opportunity, ability, and responsibility to IMPROVE what happens to us, by us, and around us.”
That’s still true, it’s just that no one could remember it. So, I wanted a shorter, more relatable definition – and “What am I going to do about it?” fits the bill.
What has happened/is happening – may be undeserved, unfair, out-of-our-control… AND, wallowing won’t help.
Asking “What am I going to do about it?” empowers us to take action and regain control… Asking and then acting on this question is the quintessence of AGEncy™.
ACTION
Has life dealt you a blow – and you’re tempted to wallow? Instead, grab your journal and at the top write down the problem.
Then in capital letters write, “WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?” and write down everything that comes to mind (big & small) that you can do to regain your power. Don’t edit yourself – write it ALL.
When you’re done, go through your list and mark 1 or 2 things you could take action on TODAY – and then actually do them!
