Feeling Of Freedom Of Action: Controlling Our Own Lives
To refer to the feeling of being in control of our own lives, we use the term “feeling of freedom of action”. Being an active agent in your own life means knowing where we are, what is happening to us, and having the ability to change our circumstances.
Physical agencies, such as travel agencies, are responsible for providing services that help meet or satisfy the needs of certain people, which is also why they exist and people seek them out. In this way, only our sense of freedom of action can meet certain specific internal needs. This explains why it is so important to have a good sense of agency.
Freedom of action starts with internal perception
Internal perception is an individual perception each person has about the body’s internal state. It is information that helps keep our body in balance, or homeostasis. The body, mind and brain are very much connected to each other. This means that internal perception is not only physiological, but that it is also associated with subjective sensations, such as moods and emotions.
The more knowledge we gain from internal perception, the greater the capacity and potential we have to be able to control our own lives. Remember that if we are aware of the changes that are taking place in our internal and external environments, we can adapt to these changes in a more efficient and appropriate way.
The effects of losing a sense of agency
“The Body Keeps the Score”, is a fantastic book written by psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk. In the book, he claims that many war veterans go through a loss of the feeling of freedom of action. Many of them remain attached to an environment in which they learned to function based on a set of norms that only function in conflicting circumstances.
In addition, for many different reasons, people may feel insecure or uncomfortable in their own bodies. An example of this is to constantly relive the past. This is something that can be a sign of inner discomfort. Humans are beings of habit, and many people learn to ignore their instincts and paralyze their conscience. That said, it is important to keep in mind that ignoring what is happening inside us causes us to lose control.
Many health problems such as chronic pain, fatigue, headaches and migraines are a type of internal cry for help. All of these problems can be the result of ignoring our inner signals. We pay a high, high price when we stop being active agents in our own lives. This is because we ignore or are not aware of what really hurts us, or vice versa, what is safe and beneficial for us.
How can we be active agents in our own lives?
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is responsible for monitoring our bodily sensations. We are currently aware that conscious meditation and yoga can help us regulate ourselves. In the same way, they can also help us to be more aware of the bodily sensations we experience. This in turn can make us feel stronger, and help us take control of our own lives.
The effect of somatic or corporal work on the release of energy has been proven. Especially with those who feel blocked, like war veterans trapped in the terror of their past. Working with internal perception through physical exercise is a good way to help you understand the messages and signals that your body sends out about your different needs.
To sum up, the feeling of freedom of action is to trust and know our emotions and bodies, and to understand what these two are trying to tell us. Freedom of action does not mean that it is easy to take control of our lives (and fight against other strong forces). This whole process starts by knowing and accepting ourselves to create a life plan. Some questions may help us reflect on our capacity for action. What do you expect from life? What are your dreams and ambitions? Who, or what, can help you make the changes you want in life?
