Mariner divided this subject into two posts because the first one was growing too long. This post will focus on how to manage Agency.

Just a refresher: Agency is the ability to know what the real world circumstances are and be able to have an intelligent, accurate response to those circumstances. Very generally, there are three types of Agency: Psychological, that is, emotional reasons for taking action. Second, there is Behavioral, that is, taking charge of the situation by making rational decisions to modify reality. Third is Determinism, that is, the disruptions caused by biological aging.

You will need a few tools:

♥ Deliberate focus. This is a tool you wear between your eyes with an adapter that receives control signals from your brain. This tool prevents distractions from interfering with the main task at hand. Going from one unfinished task to another likely is the most common contribution to an out-of-focus reality. It’s like the brain trying to read with improperly focused reading glasses. As you leave for work, why did you stop to water the rose bush? The brain wonders if it missed a perspective on reality. The brain needs eyes that can focus.

♥ Attitude cleanser.  This is a tool that erases attitude. No matter your attitude about a list of chores or an undesirable task, pour some attitude cleanser on your brain until desire and gumption come forth.

♥ Reality Board. This is a tool that maps out each day’s reality and how you will interact with that reality. Some folks call it a list of chores but that seems to mariner to be a limited perception of reality. It’s like watching black and white TV with a faulty closed caption. The Reality Board is several perspectives which you memorize. The lists on the Reality Board include a mandatory daily chore list, a monthly calendar, the current week’s weather and a daily notepad with current activities and obligations. It is required that each list be updated and coordinated each day.

♥ Talker Tool. This is a really important tool.

• It requires you to talk to the members of your family at least once a week and more if appropriate.
• It requires you to speak to at least one neighbor every week.
• It requires talking to two BFFs every week.
• It requires you to attend your choice of community program regularly, e.g., church, charities, library activities, public events like fairs, parades, elections, breakfast coffee gang. Then talk and listen to them.

♥ Determinism is about 80% the result of biological aging. The other 20% can be slowed with the regular use of the tools mentioned above.

Ancient Mariner