Are You a Self-Sovereign?

By Max Borders

A self-sovereign is not someone who blindly follows orders or accepts the status quo. She takes ownership of her own life and makes her own decisions, even when it's difficult. She’s not afraid to question authority or to take risks. She believes in herself and her ability to make a difference in the world.

But a self-sovereign is not someone who steps on the necks of others to reach her goals. Instead, she is concerned with peaceful, reciprocal relationships, all while living by moral rules. She wants to collaborate, not dominate. She understands that her success is dependent on the success of others, and she is committed to working together to create a better condition for everyone—starting with herself and her family by way of priority, and extending outward to her neighbors, community, and country.

Now, self-sovereignty is both justified by, and vital to, a number of areas. Let’s explore several:

1. Psychology. The idea of an "internal locus of control" originates from the realm of psychology. People with an internal locus of control believe that they are in charge of their own fate, while those with an external locus of control think external forces determine their outcomes. Research has shown that an internal locus of control is associated with:

• Better stress management.

• Greater motivation and goal-setting.

• More positive, healthy behaviors.

• A fuller sense of accomplishment and well-being.

• A more complete life of meaning.

Sadly, too many young people today imagine they live at the whim of forces outside of their control. This gives rise to mass victimhood pathologies.

2. Philosophy. The philosophical underpinnings of self-sovereignty can be traced back to the Stoics, as well as thinkers like Immanuel Kant, who emphasized autonomy and the idea of "self-legislation." To Kant, an autonomous individual acts according to her own rational decisions rather than simply adhering to external commands. Thinkers such as Adam Smith, David Hume, and John Locke held similar views about autonomy.

3. Sociology. In sociological terms, self-sovereignty can be related to the concept of "agency," where individuals have the ability to act independently and make free choices. The structure-agency debate in sociology revolves around the balance between the influence of societal structures and individual agency. A self-sovereign person exercises high agency, even when societal structures might be restrictive.

4. Education. Educational theories, especially those that revolve around student-centered learning, support the development of self-sovereignty. Methods like problem-based learning or the Montessori approach emphasize the importance of self-directed learning, where students take the lead in their own education processes, developing trust in their own abilities and judgment.

5. Cognitive Science. Trusting one's own ability to discern and decide requires metacognition, which is the ability to think about one's own thinking. This skill is developed as one evaluates, monitors, and adjusts her cognitive processes. Individuals who can accurately assess her strengths and weaknesses are better positioned to make informed decisions.

6. Ethics. From an ethical point-of-view, self-sovereignty is tied to the idea of personal responsibility. When individuals are in control of their decisions, they are also accountable for the consequences of those decisions. This responsibility is foundational to many ethical frameworks, from Western to Eastern traditions. Vitally, self-sovereigns tend to refrain from harming others and expect others will refrain from harming her.

7. Neuroscience. Brain studies have shown that decision-making is a complex process involving various regions of the brain. When an individual trusts her decision-making ability, it could be linked to the efficient functioning of these regions, as well as the interplay between emotion and cognition.

In essence, the journey to becoming self-sovereign is multifaceted, drawing from diverse disciplines. But in other respects, it’s felt—an inner journey. 

Whatever the list above, you don’t need psychology to be self-sovereign. You know whether you’re capable of critical thinking and goal-directed action. If you don’t, you should probably figure it out–and fast. There are too many ideological cults out there waiting to offer you a false sense of meaning. 

Self-sovereignty is a combination of inborn traits, personal experience, societal influence, cognitive development, and philosophical beliefs. So each’s path to self-sovereignty will be unique. Some of these factors are inborn. Some of these factors are learned. But as Viktor Frankl once wrote:

“Between the stimulus and response, there is a space. And in that space lies our freedom and power to choose our responses. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

In short, self-sovereignty is a mindset that must be practiced in thought, word, and deed. And that practice starts with a commitment. That commitment is to yourself, to cultivating your sense of efficacy, morality, and freedom in everything you do. And that takes courage. But it’s there, waiting inside of you. You just have to reach down and take it.

Max Borders is a senior advisor to The Advocates and editor of Underthrow.org.