Proactive Versus Reactive: The Key to a Fulfilling Life. The key to living the life you want is to stop being reactive and to start being proactive, learning to control your destiny. Truth be told its not easy to do this, but once you practice framing life in the way of 'I want to feel/ do/ become/ experience' you will find it easier to make decisions. So go be Aurelian-level proactive, friends. Most define these terms in the context of expectation or anticipation. Please share! I Googled these terms and listed below some of the descriptions I found. Step 3: Identify changes you can make. Flipping the narrative to what would make you feel good instead of thinking about what doesn't make you feel good should put you in a better place mentally to start off with. If one of the parts fail, it begins to break down. Defining “proactive” within the same context, yet acting to prevent or plan for it, is not the opposite of reactive; rather, it is just a step down from the truly passive “reactive” definition. You go beyond the current rules of engagement where predictable scenarios lie in your anticipation, and instead, you act outside those parameters. Did you like this post? The key point here is you are 'forced' in to acting by circumstances which often leave you with little choice in the situation. Consider where you want to work and live, but you should also think about the type of friends you would like to have etc. The path to those desires will stick out prominently when they come about. In line with the other blog posts this week that turn the concept of proactivity on its head, I’d also propose that being proactive has nothing to do with anticipation but instead, has everything to do with creation. Are You Reactive or Proactive? I Googled these terms and listed below some of the descriptions I found. They might put in the effort to find a new job and be satisfied for a while, but lasting happiness will be just out of reach as the same itch or need to move arises. Do things happen to you or do you make things happen? Your first task is to grab pen and paper so that you can write down what you are looking for. I have a different take on the issue of proactive vs reactive than what you might be used to. The grasshopper asked, “Hey brother! Do your definitions hold? Having a proactive mindset is also critical in sales coaching – yet, few sales managers currently coach proactively, instead coaching reactively as issues crop up. Many describe both terms relative to some impending event that you will be subject to in the future. For “reactive,” this makes sense. You create the conditions you want rather than waiting for, or even being prepared for, things to happen to you. Learn how your comment data is processed. Can you rewire yourself to move towards that life instead of away from the one you are now? There was once a grasshopper who loved life. Do you hand in the report late, knowing that you’ll be ostracized for it and let your team down? Think about it for a moment. You will only address problems when they present themselves, and you will survive but not enjoy everything that this world has to offer. If you feel unfulfilled at work or are unhappy with the direction in which your life is moving, you are not alone. What are you doing?” The ant replied, “I am gathering food for the winter while the weath… Game Changer: a refreshing lens on “proactive vs reactive” Leave a Comment / Leadership / By Aurelian Coaching. Jan 3. Private Coaching Professional Coaching About Us Current Page: Articles Contact Proactive Vs Reactive. He lived like he did not have a care in the world. One day as he was sun-bathing, he saw an ant pushing a bread crumb across the ground. You do something unexpected to thrill someone, or to help someone instead of doing what you’ve always done. For example, reactive people will wait until they are unfulfilled at work before making a change. I can’t wait to show you more ways to live and work more fully! That’s right. I have a different take on the issue of proactive vs reactive than what you might be used to. A Guide To Planned VS Reactive Teaching. You can tell from someone’s language how proactive that person is. It then becomes easier to act proactively in the future. Put a successful football coach, such as Louis van Gaal, and an unsuccessful football coach, such as Frank de Boer, next to each other. Reactive = you do nothing about an impending event, Traditional proactive = you act in anticipation of an impending event, Aurelian-level proactive = you go create the event. I don't know about you but I always feel better thinking about things that make me happy vs the worst case scenario! What organization can you add to make the best use of your time for each? If you want more insights and tools to help you manage work and life a little better – new ways of thinking, rather than doing – then join the email list on the very top bar of this page. Remaining reactive to life will prevent you from reaching your goals and realising your true potential, and you don't want to fall into that trap. Back. For example, if you really want adventure and only mildly dislike being uncomfortable then when the next road trip suggestion comes up why not push past your comfort instinct and say yes? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This essentially means preparing to solve an issue, even before it crops up. Since nobody will read it, you can be completely open and honest with yourself. It is made up of various parts that make the machine only as strong and reliable as its weakest link. Whether it’s about fitness, careers or personal relationships, most people know that something is missing from their life but can’t put their finger on it. You just have to turn on the TV after sports matches and you will immediately hear in the interviews who is proactive and who is reactive. When you are proactive, you gain experience that can enlarge your comfort zone. Proactive Versus Reactive: The Key to a Fulfilling Life. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), go beyond the current rules of engagement, Eliminate problems before they appear or grow, Connect the dots and come up with a game plan, Anticipate what the future will be and react accordingly, Being flexible and adaptable to what is happening around you, Actions precipitated by an external cause.