BE PROACTIVE
Am I always proactive in my decisions, as I used to advise my friends to be?
I came about the notion of proactive model when reading the book of “The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People” written by Stephen R. Covey where he explained that being proactive is the first habit of a highly effective person. Being a proactive person means being able to anticipate what the future will be, and react accordingly before it actually happens. It also implies creating or controlling a situation, rather than just responding to it after it has happened (acting in anticipation) and reacting regardless of emotions and other influences.
The reverse of a proactive person is a reactive person who act in response to a situation rather than creating or controlling it, he responds to a particular situation with the influence of emotions and other elements. These peoples are most often affected by their physical, social and psychological environment. If the weather is good, they feel good and if it isn’t, it affects their behavior, performance, attitude etc. While, Proactive people are often value driven and carry along their own weather with them. Whether it rains or shine makes no difference to them. If you are a reactive person, it means you build your emotional life around the behaviors of other people, you feel good when treated well and when not, you are defensive or protective. A Proactive person is also influenced by these external stimuli whether social, physical or psychological but his responses to the stimuli conscious or unconscious are valued-based choice or respond.
When I think of these notions of proactive, I think of when I just entered the fabulous land of the UAE in 2019, I was leaving with a very good friend of mine where I was very comfortable with almost all I needed to be happy. Prepared food, good friends, alcohol, parties and my favorite one PlayStation 4 console with my favorite game (football), were among the few things which contributed to my comfort there. After I got a job, I decided to quit my by-then home, which got everyone surprised. Despite all the enjoyment I had there, the critics of my fellows and despite my friend’s determination of not to let me leave, I was determined, and I quitted.
The thing I have never told someone is that at that time I was craving to find my own way and somehow inside me I knew very well that it will be harder to build my own road while being surrounded by all this comfort and distractions. It will be harder to for me to write my story as I have ever wanted to.
What was really happening beyond the scene was that, my destiny of writer was calling upon me. After I left, I started taking online classes on screenplay writing, I could concentrate on reading on blogs and books and more again.
Being proactive means more than taking initiative, it means that as human beings we are responsible for our own lives. Our behavior should be a function of our decision, not our conditions. We can subordinate fillings to value. We have the responsibility to make things happen, and I can say it is the first and the most important proactive decision I ever took in my life. There are thousands of advantages of being a proactive person, of which i think the most important one to me is that it’s a way of building our own path and living life according to our principles and not that of others. We become captains of our boats.
It is sure one can’t be perfectly proactive all the time, but the secret is to initiate it in our principles. It will not always be an easy task, but as in every good habit, it requires exercise, courage and perseverance. Remember it always starts with small ones first (small decision, small steps etc.).
Don’t forget to read my essay on “Small things first” which can help you implement daily knowledge you come across in your daily readings. Comments and feedbacks are highly welcomed.
