It is normal to have days when we feel like we can't do anything. That "I can't" syndrome infiltrates our daily routine and, suddenly, that pile of work we had to do becomes an insurmountable mountain. Most of the time, we simply feel stuck in passivity because we wait for motivation to hit us like a bolt of lightning. This approach rarely works because motivation doesn't always present itself when we need it. This is where we must take the step to go from passivity to proactivity.
Understanding Proactivity
Proactivity is a commonly used term used to describe the actions we take to influence our future. Instead of waiting for something to happen, a proactive person will do everything possible to ensure that their desired goals come true. That means they don't wait for motivation to come to them; instead, they take action, even if they don't feel "motivated" to do so.
Passivity and Proactivity in Psychology
In psychology, passivity and proactivity are two opposing approaches to decision making and responses to life circumstances. While passive people tend to react to situations as they arise and tend to avoid making decisions until they become inevitable, proactive people plan, anticipate, and take action to prevent problems before they occur.
From Passivity to Proactivity
The key to moving from passivity to proactivity is to start acting now, instead of waiting to feel motivated.
Deal with challenges. Fears
Many times, the tendency to passivity can be rooted in fear; fear of failure, rejection, judgment. To overcome this passivity, we must face these sources of fear and take the first step, regardless of the outcome. Taking action may result in failure, but every failure is an opportunity to learn and improve. The more we act, the more confidence we gain in our ability to handle any outcome, which in turn increases our proactivity.
Set Clear Goals
Setting clear goals is also essential to being proactive. . If we are not sure where we want to go, it is very likely that we will end up going nowhere. Goals give direction to our energy and help us take purposeful actions.
Create an Action Plan
Once we have clear goals, we need an action plan to achieve them . This means breaking down each goal into smaller, more manageable tasks, and then scheduling these tasks into our daily lives. This gives us a clear path forward and increases the likelihood of taking action rather than getting stuck in inaction.
Conclusions
Moving from passivity to proactivity can be challenging. , but it's a change that can have a significant impact on our productivity and success. We can't always rely on motivation to be there when we need it, and the best way to ensure we keep going, even when we don't feel inspired, is to encourage proactivity. By facing our fears, setting clear goals and creating an action plan, we can take the first steps towards proactivity and start acting without waiting for motivation.