Habit 1: Be Proactive- Take Responsibility for Your Life
“Proactive People” vs. “Reactive People”
- Proactive people can say, “I am the force. I am the captain of my life. I can choose my attitude. I’m
responsible for my own happiness or unhappiness. I am in the driver’s seat of my destiny, not just a
passenger.” Proactive people think before they act. They recognize they can’t control everything
that happens to them, but they can control what they do about it.
- Reactive people make choices based on impulse. They are like a can of cola. If life shakes them up a
bit, the pressure builds and they suddenly explode. Reactive people are those that simply go through
life pretty passively, and then “react” when something happens (usually in “crisis” mode).
Listen to Your Language
- You can usually hear the difference between proactive and reactive people by the type of language
they use. Reactive language usually sounds like this: “That’s me. That’s just the way I am.” What
they’re really saying is, I’m not responsible for the way I act. I can’t change. I was predetermined to be this way.
Notice that reactive language takes the power away from you and gives it to something or someone
else.
Reactive Language Proactive Language
I’ll try I’ll do it
That’s just the way I am I can do better than that
There’s nothing I can do Let’s look at all the options
I have to I choose to
I can’t There’s gotta be a way
You ruined my day I’m not going to let your bad mood rub off on me
Besides feeling like victims, reactive people:
- Are easily offended
- Blame others
- Get angry and say things they later regret
- Whine and complain
- Wait for things to happen to them
- Change only when they have to
Proactive people are a different breed. Proactive people:
- Are not easily offended
