Moving to proactive thinking from reactive thinking

Many of us go through life with a reactive style of thinking. In other words, we simply react to the circumstances that we find ourselves in. Now the interesting thing is that people hate to be out of control, so imagine how frustrating and exhausting it is for your mind to constantly react to situations instead of taking a proactive step to deal with them. The reactive mindset is common to us all. It’s what happens when you are in a ‘fight or flight’ mode, when you either deal with the situation or avoid it.

Imagine if you could adopt a proactive way of thinking and actually be prepared for events and situations that may come your way. You would then be more aware and mindful of what is happening around you. And most of all you would have more control over your own thoughts, emotions and actions. When you are reactive you experience negative emotions such as uncertainty, frustration and perhaps even anger. On the other hand, when you are proactive you would have thought through the situation, accessed relevant information and can take action accordingly.

You can expect to feel charged, positive and in control of the moment. At the end of it, a proactive approach empowers you.Now, while it is true that you can’t prepare for every eventuality in life, the fact is that you can prepare for a majority of situations. If you are ready to shift from a reactive to a proactive way of thinking, here are some things that you could try:

Take Some Time Out 

You’ve seen sports teams do this on the field in order to reassess their strategy. You too need to take some time out to decide the direction of your day, week and yes, also your life. Don’t spend too much time thinking and planning, just enough to clarify your thoughts and options. Now that you have some clarity over what your day and month will be like, you can draw up your plans and action approach.

list of Actions 

Create a list of activities that need to be accomplished in your day and week and try to keep to it. Do arrange them according to their level of importance.

Expect the Unexpected 

There will surely be moments that you will not be prepared for, tell yourself that it’s okay too. Instead of struggling to cope and react, take time to analyse the situation, gain information about it and then handle it with a calmer mind.

Being Proactive is a Skill

No one is born proactive or reactive; it is a skill that needs to be developed and nurtured over a period of time. The more you are aware and mindful of the world around you, the more effective you are at dealing with it. People feel secure in any given situation when they know that they have the skills to manage it efficiently.

Respond, don’t react. listen, don’t talk. Think, don’t assume. —Raji lukkoor

(The writer is a social & corporate leader and former COO for the Uttarakhand Government 108 emergency services)