What is Autonomy?
Autonomy is our child’s need to perceive that they have choices and that they are the source of their own actions.
It is their ability and confidence in making self-directed decisions and choices, especially when the situation is uncertain and not part of the usual routine. Autonomy helps us to feel motivated, engaged and satisfied with our lives and helps us apply energy in the right directions.
There is a universal desire to be active agents in our own lives. The impact of autonomy has been studied in over 80 countries around the world. Regardless of culture, autonomy is consistently linked to better life satisfaction.
The number one well-being benefit we get from autonomy is: feeling able to make our own decisions and have control over our path in life. This is not completely independent of the other people in our lives. As we will explore this month, maintaining healthy community while having your own direction creates powerful autonomy and is a big part of a well-rounded umbrella.