Just a few things I read this a couple of days ago about reactive/proactive:
“Our behaviour is a function of our decisions, not our conditions”. If we choose to blame others for our conditions, we become reactive. “Proactive people are driven by values - carefully thought about, selected and internationalised values” while “Reactive people are driven by feelings, by circumstances, by conditions, by their environment”.
Reactive language:
- There’s nothing I can do.
- That’s just the way I am.
- He makes me so mad.
- They won’t allow that.
- I have to do that.
- I can’t.
- I must.
- If only.
Proactive language:
- Let’s look at our alternatives.
- I can choose a different approach.
- I control my own feelings.
- I can create an effective presentation.
- I will choose an appropriate response.
- I choose.
- I prefer.
- I will.