There’s nothing inherently wrong about being “reactive” (for one thing, when you react, it means you’re not asleep or dead). Yet, when we contrast “proactive” with “reactive,” we imply that one is right and the other wrong.
In this context, “reactive” takes on a different meaning. It implies that you don’t have the initiative. You let the events set the agenda. You’re tossed and turned, so to speak, by the tides of life. Each new wave catches you by surprise. Huffing and puffing, you scramble to react to it to stay afloat.
In contrast, the image we associate with “proactive” is one of grace under stress. Let’s say you’re in choppy waters to stay with the previous analogy. Now, you look more at ease. It’s not just that you anticipate the waves. You’re in tune with them. You’re not desperately trying to escape them; you’re dancing with them.
It would be great to dance with the rhythm of life, using the ebb and flow of events as energy sources. But is this only possible for those whom nature endowed with a proactive attitude (or, maybe, a “proactive gene”)?
Not a mysterious quality
I believe that being proactive is not a mysterious quality that we have or don’t have. It is a way of dealing with things we can develop and strengthen.
What, then, is this skill?
In a nutshell, being proactive is the same thing as being reactive. The only difference is that you react ahead of time.
Let’s return to the example of the two swimmers on the choppy seas. The difference between them is that the proactive swimmer anticipates that there will be waves. In contrast, the reactive one is painfully surprised by each wave.
The difference is one of perspective. Proactive swimmers see the big picture: Each wave is not isolated but is part of a pattern. While there is stress in dealing with difficult circumstances, there is consistency and logic to the environment. There’s a degree of predictability.
With this bigger picture in mind, proactive swimmers can adapt to the ups and downs. As he does so, they “learn” the patterns of the waves from the inside out. Their reactions become more and more spontaneous, more and more in tune with the rhythm of the waves.
Anticipating
So, being proactive means being able to anticipate what the future will be and react before it happens.
What is it that prevents reactive swimmers from doing so? It could be a lack of information. There are plenty of events in life that we simply cannot predict. It could also be a lack of intelligence: some people are better than others at thinking in terms of patterns.
But let’s assume, for the moment, that our two swimmers have both the same levels of information and intelligence. Then, the difference between them would be that the proactive swimmer has enough energy to take in the available information and adapt to it. In contrast, the reactive swimmer is exhausted and overwhelmed (“Somebody, get me out of here, please!”).
Three takeaways
What does this metaphor do with understanding how you can be more proactive in your life? Three things:
ONE: To be proactive, what you have to do is ask yourself what is likely to happen and react to it before it happens.
TWO: It takes energy to rise above the difficulties of the moment, to see the big picture, and to make the changes you need to make.
THREE: Sometimes, you may not have that energy. At such times, berating yourself for being weak serves no purpose. Think of your “reactivity” as a symptom instead of a failure. You need a break. Take it.
Let’s imagine that our exhausted swimmer finds a raft. From this stable vantage point, wouldn’t he be better able to see the big picture? After some rest, wouldn’t he be better able to deal with the pattern of the waves?
Sometimes, the most proactive thing you can do is take a break. Use this “Time Out” to refocus on what you’re doing and how you’re doing it.