Things are inevitably not going to go to plan or are going to go wrong. That’s just part of our life’s journey.
Whether these situations have a large negative impact or are merely minor inconveniences depends on how we respond.
When we focus on things we have little control over we tend to be REACTIVE.
But when we focus on things we have more control over we become more PROACTIVE.
How long it takes us to respond can also be a factor.
Living a life of reacting to problems in the heat of the moment can magnify challenges and add undue stress to your life.
Taking a moment before you respond can minimise challenges and provide better stability – it’s easier to be calm, cool, and collected if you’re being proactive.
Here are several reasons why choosing proactivity is so important.
1. Proactivity is a way of defusing potential challenges before they become problems.
Imagine you have an old computer with a faulty hard drive. There’s probably a good chance it will break down. If you’re proactive, you’ll either go purchase a newer computer before that happens, back up regularly and move to the cloud, or both!
The person that isn’t as proactive will possibly lose all their data and be left stranded without a device.
2. Give yourself the opportunity to develop more elegant solutions.
When you wait until the last minute, most of the possible solutions evaporate. You don’t have the time or the resources to entertain all of the possible solutions. You’re forced to patch together whatever will work in the heat of the moment.
3. Think and plan.
To be proactive, it’s necessary to look ahead and consider what’s in your potential future. Without forward planning, you will be forced into reactionary mode, rather than being able to make the choice to be proactive.
4. Create a better life.
Living reactively is like living life in survival mode. You spend all of your time putting out fires instead of designing the life you want.
Proactivity allows you the space and the luxury to create something beyond that which you already have.
5. Feel empowered.
When you’re proactive, you take responsibility for your life and believe that your ability to choose your actions matters.
By waiting until there’s an issue before taking action, you simply react to life instead of designing it.
6. Enjoy more choices.
Suppose things aren’t going great at work. Perhaps you don’t get on with your boss and they’re not going anywhere. If you start looking for a new job today, you’ll have plenty of potential choices. If you wait until it becomes intolerable, you might have to take whatever you can find.
You have unlimited options if you’re proactive. You have less if you wait until you’re forced to act.
7. Find greater peace of mind.
Live your life with less anxiety. When you prepare yourself and focus on the things that are within your control you are less likely to worry.
When you live reactively, you’re always waiting for the “other shoe to drop”. That’s a stressful way to live.
8. Being proactive makes the path forward clearer.
Choosing to look ahead allows you to develop a plan for the future. Proactive people have a direction and a plan to get there.
There are many benefits to choosing to be proactive each day. Proactive people spend more time and energy focused on issues that are within our control like our attitude and behaviour, what we read, what we buy, how we live, what we listen to, what skills we learn, where we travel to, what we do for work. Challenges can be nullified before they become full-blown issues. It’s a more enjoyable and effective way to live.
So what will you choose today? How can you maximize your opportunities and minimize your potential challenges?
If this has been useful for you, I’d love for you to share it with your friends or anyone else you think may find it useful.
Remember, you can unleash your unique version of success!
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