The Field Guide for Radical Living: A Six-Week Series Part 2

The Field Guide for Radical Living: A Six-Week Series 

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There is an art to living well, and even more so when living with depression, PTSD, or any other mental health condition. 

This field guide is a six-week blog series for those who want to master that art. 

Each “radical” is a practice. Together, they form a way of living. 

This guide is designed to help out during the toughest times. Chances are, if things feel like they are falling apart, if it feels like life isn't going how we would like it too, one of the “radicals” in this series is going to speak to you and be a call to action. 

Each “radical” is a little complex, a little nuanced. Some take a while to wrap your head around. Most of them contain within them a dialectic, or a need to hold two things true at once. 

Week two: Reclaiming Agency

These practices move someone out of helplessness and into choice.

This is where victimhood dissolves and agency returns. These concepts are challenging, activating, and empowering, best introduced after acceptance and presence are established.

Radical Ownership

Complete ownership of your life. Your thoughts. Your emotions. Your impact.

Just focus on sweeping your side of the street. Don't you dare look at anyone else's actions until your side of the street is swept clean. Stop waiting for people to act differently and show them how it's done. Apologize first, not for anything that is not your fault, but for everything that is. 

“Own it, fully. Drop victimhood. Practice agency.”

Try this: Next time you're tempted to blame, ask “What is mine to own here?”

Radical Responsibility

All excuses are lies. 

Take full responsibility. Full responsibility for everything that isn’t going well in your life. Maybe everything isn't entirely your fault, but you ended up here, and nobody is coming to save you. There might be people who can help, but nobody can get you all the way through this but YOU.

You are the only person who is going to be able to fix this.

Try this: When you hear yourself say “I can’t…”, tell that part of you to get lost, that part wants to keep you comfortable and safe but it’s keeping you stuck. That part doesn't care about your future, your dreams, your goals, or the life you are building. Tell that part “all excuses are lies” and think “maybe I can't do that but maybe I can do this….!”.

Radical Integrity

Let your actions reflect your deepest values.

Be the same person in every room. Self-esteem is built from esteemable actions. 

Try this: Ask, “What would it look like to stay true to myself right now?”

Radical Discipline

Show up when it matters, not just when it’s easy.

Discipline isn’t punishment. It’s devotion. To your future self. To your deepest values. To your chosen life.
Stay loyal to your highest values, not your momentary moods. 

There is a part of you that loves comfort, that wants to put everything off to tomorrow. And there is a part of you that cares deeply about your future self. Tell that undisciplined part “I care more about building a life I love, than being comfortable right now.”

Try this: Pick something new to start practicing being disciplined about. Maybe it’s just getting 10 minutes of sunlight every morning. But whatever it is, you're going to do it everyday, even when you don't feel like it. Especially when you don't feel like it. 

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This is the moment you stop waiting. Waiting for motivation, for permission, for someone else to change first. Radical agency is not about blame, it’s about power. When you take ownership of your choices, your values, and your effort, you step out of survival mode and into authorship. Your life begins to respond when you do. Not perfectly, not immediately, but unmistakably.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog.

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