Proactive vs. reactive
Which one serves us best?
In order to give insight and value to this article let's define the two words first.
- Proactive: Acting in advance to deal with an expected change or difficulty.
- Reactive: tending to be responsive or to react to a stimulus.
Why do I ask which one serves us best? Because how we react to issues and challenges in our lives dictates not only our outcome, but our future as well. In order to be more precise, let's take a look at how each one looks when applied to a particular challenge we might face.
Now this example is a bit simple but easily applied to us living here in the northeast. Also understand that the principle is what is most important here, not they example. Every year we get between100 and 120 inches of snow. So, after spending just one winter here, we understand that this happens every year. Some years are better then others but, for the most part we expect 100 to 120 inches a year.
If I were proactive I would:
- Make sure my snow blower is checked and working properly
- Make sure I have rock salt or something to melt ice off my porch and steps
- Make sure I know where my shovels are and they are not broken
If I were being proactive about traveling in car it would be more like this:
- Make sure I have my snowbrush and scraper
- Make sure I have jumper cables in my car
- Make sure my tires are in good condition
I am sure we can list several other important things we need, but I think you get the picture about being proactive, which means taking the necessary steps ahead of the challenges you might face in life.
Now how would this look from a reactive point of view?
- Big snowstorm hits and no gas for snow blower or better yet won't start at all because you never checked to see it needed new spark plug.
- Your daughter comes home from school and falls coming into the house because off all the ice on the steps.Because the snow blower is not working you can't find the brand new shovel you bought last year.
- Any of this sound familiar? How about with you car:
- You come outside after work and the car is covered with snow and you are brushing it off with your hands because you can't find the brand new scraper you got free when you bought the brand new shovel last year.
- Standing outside freezing waiting for AAA to come jump start your car because no one, including you, has jumper cables in their car.
All to often, people will read an article like this and say “yeah but”. That simple line “yeah but” is a crippling effect on our society. More times then not “yeah but” can be avoided. Just from the examples above, how much stress could you eliminate from your life by being just a little more proactive as compared to being reactive to any situation you face. I read a book awhile back by author Jack Canfield called “Success Principles”. In it, he talks about an equation that can hold great power for us to live by. That equation is:
E + R = O
Event + Response = Outcome
Take any Event in your life ads your Response or (Reaction) to it and it will always equal your
Outcome.
Outcome is how we measure things in business and in life. It is how we measure all things to a degree. So the question is simply this? How will you responded to your next event? Proactive or reactive? The one you choose will determine your outcome. Not only in that event, but also in your life.
Remember be positive, be real and live your life In The Zone.
Proactive vs. reactive
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