Neither Gods Nor Their Playthings: Personal Agency and Systemic Forces in Transformative Coaching

There’s a delicate tension we all navigate between the belief that we can do anything we set our minds to and the recognition that forces outside of us often shape what is possible. 

This tension can feel like a push and pull between two seemingly contradictory truths: on the one hand, we are told that we are the masters of our own destiny, and on the other, we are reminded that we are subject to societal systems and structures far beyond our control.

Transformative coaching sits at the heart of this tension, helping people navigate their own unique path between these two poles. 

It assumes that neither extreme is wholly accurate nor wholly inaccurate. Both hold truths and, at their extremes, both hold falsities.

There are forces at play that limit our agency, but there is also a vast space where we can create, influence, and make meaningful change. 

Coaching helps us see this reality for what it is—complex, nuanced, and filled with possibility.

The Struggle Of Sisyphus: Caught Between A Rock And A Hard Place!

Albert Camus’s famous essay The Myth of Sisyphus offers a powerful metaphor for the tension between personal agency and the external forces that shape our lives. 

In the myth, Sisyphus is condemned by the gods to eternally push a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down each time he reaches the top. Camus interprets this as a symbol of the human condition, where we struggle against seemingly insurmountable forces—yet still retain the power to choose how we engage with that struggle.

Camus suggests that even though Sisyphus’s fate is dictated by external, unchangeable forces (in this case, the gods), his inner freedom lies in how he chooses to perceive his task. 

This neatly reflects the balance that coaching encourages: while we may face systemic forces beyond our control—such as the culture we are born into or the socio-economic structures that limit our choices—we still retain the capacity to choose our responses. 

Just as Sisyphus finds meaning and agency within his endless task, coaching helps us find power and possibility within the constraints we face, allowing us to transform our perspective and take purposeful action despite external limitations.

Yet, whilst this story offers us an insight into the balance we face, individuals often respond to  this tension by choosing, or believing, one position over another. Either they have an untrammelled ability to control their fate, or they are mere playthings of greater forces, doomed to be a victim of circumstance.

The Myth of ‘You Can Do Anything’

The idea of personal agency—the belief that we can shape our own destinies through sheer will—has roots stretching back to the late 19th century, a period marked by the rise of individualism in the West. 

During the Industrial Revolution, the idea of the self-made individual began to take hold, as people increasingly believed that hard work and determination could allow them to transcend their social class and circumstances. 

This belief gained even more traction throughout the 20th century, fuelled by cultural shifts that celebrated independence and personal freedom.

By the late 20th century, personal agency reached its peak with the likes of Tony Robbins and other self-help figures who advocated the idea that individuals possess limitless potential. Robbins, along with other figures in the personal development movement, popularised the belief that we are in complete control of our lives, often proclaiming that we can achieve anything we want if we set our minds to it. This message resonated deeply with a generation seeking empowerment, and it remains a dominant narrative in self-help culture today.

However, while this message is inspiring, it can also be problematic. 

The idea that “you can do anything” ignores the very real systemic forces that shape our opportunities—forces like socio-economic inequality, racial and gender bias, disability, and the political environments we are born into. When people inevitably encounter these barriers, the myth of unlimited agency can lead to frustration, burnout, and self-blame, as individuals feel they’ve somehow failed to harness their power correctly.

In addition, the response in which advocates of limitless personal agency point to those who transcend their challenges can often fall prey to survivor bias, ignoring the many people who may have tried equally hard but simply couldn’t navigate past systemic forces.

In today’s culture of self-help and personal development, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if we work hard enough, visualise our goals, or adopt the right mindset, we can achieve anything. This belief is seductive. It promises control, power, and a clear pathway to success. But it’s also misleading.

The reality is that we don’t live in a vacuum. 

There are limits to our personal agency—societal expectations, economic pressures, cultural norms, and inequalities all shape the context in which we live and work. 

I became particularly aware of that when I was in the Philippines meeting some of my team and discussing their aspirations for their futures beyond Animas.  It was a rude awakening for me to come face to face with the extent of limitations imposed by governments, international borders, visas and much more.

The notion that we can overcome any obstacle through sheer force of will ignores these constraints, and can often lead to feelings of failure or frustration when we inevitably hit walls that are not of our own making.

Transformative coaching offers a compassionate alternative to this narrative. 

Instead of perpetuating the myth of limitless potential, coaching helps us confront the realities of our situation. 

It invites us to examine where we might be buying into an unrealistic version of agency and to ask ourselves: what is within my control? How can I make empowered choices, even within the constraints I face?

Equally, it asks us where we are disempowering ourselves by denying our personal agency.  It confronts us with choice and decision points that are uniquely available for us to make.

It recognises the power and potency of personal agency, without denying its constraints.

The Weight of Systemic Forces

While personal agency is vital, it exists within a complex web of external, systemic forces that shape our lives in profound ways. 

These forces include the culture we are brought up in, the socio-economic conditions that define our opportunities,governmental systems, the belief systems that permeate our environments and much more. 

From a young age, we are influenced by societal expectations, norms, and traditions that dictate what is deemed possible or desirable. For example, the values instilled in us by our families, schools, and communities can either open doors to certain aspirations or reinforce limiting beliefs about what people “like us” can achieve.

Beyond culture, systemic forces also encompass the structural realities that impact our chances in life. Access to education, healthcare, and economic resources varies widely depending on factors such as race, gender, disability, class, and geography. 

These disparities create an uneven playing field, meaning that while some individuals may have the freedom to pursue their goals relatively unimpeded, others face substantial obstacles due to factors beyond their control. Disadvantages like discrimination, lack of access to opportunities, or generational poverty often limit what’s realistically achievable, regardless of personal drive or ambition.

It’s undeniable that systems shape much of our lives. 

However, transformative coaching recognises that while we may not be able to escape these systems, we are not entirely powerless within them. 

Coaching invites us to see these external factors as part of the landscape rather than as immovable barriers. 

By becoming aware of the systemic forces at play, we can begin to navigate them more effectively, using creativity, resourcefulness, and emotional resilience.

Embracing a ‘Both/And’ Perspective

At its core, transformative coaching rejects the binary thinking that says we either have total control or none at all. Instead, it invites us to embrace a ‘both/and’ perspective—where we can hold space for both personal agency and systemic realities.

This perspective encourages us to recognise that while we cannot control everything, we still have power. We may not be able to change the system, but we can change how we relate to it. 

We can find areas where our choices and actions make a difference, and we can develop the resilience needed to thrive in the face of challenges.

In practice, this might mean acknowledging that while a person may face structural disadvantages, they still have the ability to influence how they show up in the world—how they build relationships, how they develop their skills, and how they pursue opportunities that align with their values. 

Coaching helps individuals identify the spaces where their agency is strongest, while also supporting them in navigating the systemic forces that limit or shape their options.

Practical Strategies for Navigating the Balance

So how does this ‘both/and’ approach translate into practical coaching work? Here are a few ways in which coaching helps individuals balance personal agency with an awareness of systemic forces:

Developing Self-Awareness

One of the key goals of transformative coaching is to help clients develop a deeper understanding of their cognitive, emotional, and sensory patterns. 

By increasing self-awareness, individuals can better recognise where they have influence and where external factors may be at play. This awareness fosters greater clarity about how to direct their energy and focus.

Building Resilience

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and systemic forces can present significant challenges. 

Coaching helps individuals build emotional resilience so that they can stay grounded in their personal power even when the world around them feels unstable or unfair. This resilience enables them to persevere, adapt, and find creative solutions, even in the face of adversity.

Purposeful and Reflective Navigation of External Systems 

Transformative coaching also encourages a reflective approach to the systems in which we live. 

Rather than seeing these systems as fixed or impenetrable, coaching helps individuals explore where there might be openings or opportunities for change. This could involve rethinking one’s career path, developing new strategies for navigating workplace dynamics, or advocating for systemic change in their communities.

Embracing the Struggle: Finding Agency in “What Is”

Just as Camus’s Sisyphus finds meaning within his unchangeable fate, transformative coaching helps individuals acknowledge “what is”—the systemic forces, challenges, and realities they face—without surrendering to them.

Coaching invites us to confront these limitations with clarity, understanding that while we cannot always change the broader systems at play, we can still choose how we respond. 

It empowers individuals to explore what is within their control, to find creative ways of acting within constraints, and to cultivate resilience in the face of adversity. In this way, coaching turns the Sisyphus myth into a lived reality, where the struggle is acknowledged, but personal agency—no matter how small—is recognised, nurtured, and meaningfully expressed.

Between the System and the Response Is the Agency

The existential psychotherapist Viktor Frankl, famously said that “between stimulus and response there is space”.

It is within this space that we exercise choice, determining how we interpret and respond to events. 

To paraphrase Frankl’s statement for this exploration we can say:

Between systems and response there is agency.

Empowerment Within Reality

Ultimately, transformative coaching offers a balanced view of personal agency—one that neither idealises individual power nor overstates the control of external forces. 

It acknowledges the complexity of the world we live in and helps individuals develop the skills and mindset needed to navigate that complexity effectively.

By working within this nuanced framework, coaching empowers people to take meaningful action in their lives, without losing sight of the realities that shape their circumstances. It encourages us to see that while we may not be gods capable of anything, we are certainly more than mere playthings of fate.

We have more power than we think, but we must also understand the world we move through. And in this understanding, we find our truest opportunities for growth and change.