Why it is important to be proactive

 Recent unpleasant events in my life have highlighted the importance of being proactive. A failure on my part to plan better ahead led me to agonising moments of waiting for my placement. A failure to tend to her health ahead of time led a person dear to me to the surgery room for the fifth time. So many of us default to reacting to adverse present situations, laying the blame on our bad luck,our past, a relative, lack of time, money or education. In hindsight, it always becomes abundantly clear that it was our failure to plan ahead of time that has led us to that moment of adversity.

 

Viktor Frankl famously said that between stimulus and response, man has the freedom to choose. As human beings we are responsible for our own lives. Our behaviour and in consequence our entire life is based on our decisions and not the conditions in which we live.We can subdue our feelings to our values and principles, therefore we can take initiative and the responsibility to make things happen the way we want to. In contrast, when we allow our feelings, our upbringing, other people and external conditions to dictate our behaviour and our present, it means that we essentially live in the past,we choose to empower them to control us.In this way, we become reactive rather than proactive. 

 

 

 “𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒹𝓊𝒸𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝒸𝒾𝓇𝒸𝓊𝓂𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈. 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝒶 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒹𝓊𝒸𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝒹𝑒𝒸𝒾𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈.”

It is of the utmost importance that we maintain control of our life by being responsible, using our resourcefulness and initiative to find solutions, seize opportunities or make things happen in a way that is in our best interest.Moreover, a change in the way we use language is necessary. Reactive language can- and more often than not-will become a self-fulfilling prophecy, making us feel victimised by our life's circumstances and not in control of our destiny.Here are a few examples, according to Stephen Covey:

There's nothing I can do --> Let's look at my alternatives

That's just the way I am--> I can choose a different approach

He makes me so mad --> I control my own feelings

They won't allow that --> I can create an effective  presentation

I have to do that--> I will choose an appropriate response

I can't --> I choose

I must --> I prefer

If only --> I will  

 

Some simple ways  to be more proactive are

*Get crystal clear on what you want in life and set goals - whether it's a three month, a yearly or three-year goal- and work hard at achieving them. Take responsibility for how your life turns out.

*Take control of your daily habits and actions. For example, your future health is reliant on your self-care routines- daily workouts, a healthy nutrition, regular visits to your doctor, setting time aside for relaxation, fun and creativity - all these contribute to being a healthier version of you when you get older. Same goes for your performance at school or at work. Organise your study or  work schedule well in advance, then work consistently at it until your goal is met. If your financial situation is less than ideal, create a plan to earn more, start saving or start spending more frugally.  

*If there is an event coming up that you're feeling anxious about, try to anticipate the possible problems/outcomes and create solutions ahead of time. For example, if you have a speaking engagement or presentation, and like me, you're really nervous about speaking in public, make sure your presentation is well-written,practise for it thoroughly and visualise that your presentation is a massive success, thus setting up your brain for the most optimal function when the time comes.

𝓑𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓮. 𝓘𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓲𝓬𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓫𝓪𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓸𝓷 𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓲𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓿𝓪𝓵𝓾𝓮𝓼 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓸𝓷 𝓶𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷. 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓿𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓼, 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓮, 𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓵𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓼.
-𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓹𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓒𝓸𝓿𝓮𝔂

The book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is a treasure trove of wisdom and efficiency advice. I highly encourage you to read it, it is well worth your time and it will change your life for the better if you heed the advice it so generously conveys.It is available in all stores.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even the longest life is short, so make it a life well-lived, the way you want it to be. Get into a proactive state of mind and start designing it today. Everything in your life is in your control, so take responsibility and initiative for it. Be an agent, not a victim. Be the driver of your life, not a passenger. Start designing your life now!

As always, sending you endless ripples of positivity and love,

Lia 💓