A Decision to be proactive

So I decided to stop bitching. Yasss. A curse word. J I usually do refrain from cursing especially in my writing. But sometimes it gives so much effect that I like it… Sooooo I decided to stop bitching. I think some people noticed. Maybe not. Doesn’t matter. In the beginning of the year one of my new year’s resolutions was to read more books. Cause you know: readers are leaders and all that jazz.

But here I am past the middle of the year and I am still at the one book I started. 7 habits of highly effective people. Starting was not that hard for me. Finishing seems to be a lot more challenging. I need something that pulls me to finish the book.

Thus. I made a plan. A series of blog-posts with kind of a summary and my interpretation of the 7 habits. I think everyone who reads that can benefit from that too. I do however recommend that you read the book yourself, because nothing beats knowledge you absorbed yourself.

Here I go and enjoy:

Each person has the ability to be self-aware. Self-awareness enables us to think about ourselves and think about thinking. Our thought process. Like now at this moment you can think about how you are reading this post and I am thinking about how I am writing now. This ability enables us to work on ourselves and in this case on habit 1. Which is : Be Proactive

Being proactive means that you take initiative and you are also aware of your responsibility to make things happen. Having said that: Proactive people focus these efforts, the-making-things-happen-efforts in their Circle of Influence. This is kind of the abstract space of things you can do something about. For instance you can choose remain positive and calm in a situation where someone else is being really angry and irritating.

Now how can you practice this habit?

Here are some suggestions for being pro-active.

For 30 days wake up with the intention and thought. I choose to be proactive.
- This is small yes. A small commitment that you can practice. As you make and keep small commitments to yourself you will see that you will build and inner integrity and self-control. A courage and strength to keep growing. After all the small commitments done great are great commitments
Be aware of yourself and your own response when dealing with other people. In the end the enables you to choose how to respond.
Change your self –talk from “if only” to “be”. Practice it for at least 30 days
- In other words: Use the right language. For example don’t say I can’t do that because it is not who I am. Say I choose not to. Or I can be better. Your inner-response will let you know if you did right. Other examples of the right language are. I can be a better listener, I can choose to respond, I get to go to work instead of I have to go to work.
Do whatever is necessary consistent with the right values
- An example of a value is “to produce good work”. If this is a value of yours you will get yourself in the right mindset to deliver the right quality.
- Another example is : “Be kind” If this is a value of yours and you are self-aware in certain situations you will know to respond with being kind. Instead of for example angry.

That was it for my summary for habit 1. If you already read 7 habits let me know what you took from habit 1 . and if you are still doing your habit 1. I am very curious.

A last note

I keep thinking I know it is hard to set goals. I sometimes also forget them. And maybe I am not quite hitting the nail. But you should take your first step. Or your second if you have already taken your first. I have no doubt in my mind you have greatness in you. You just need to keep going. Because real success lies in progress.

With a twinkle and a smile,

Eve

“Between stimulus and response man has freedom to choose” (Vikto Frankl)