It's Natural To Be Reactive, Not Proactive

I can’t attest to how true this is, but my grandma told me that in the New Year there’s a new state law in California where you can’t park within 20 feet of a crosswalk. And it’s not like cities are going to paint every curb red that this affects, it’s on us to remember this new law and change our behavior accordingly.

This is most likely how it’s all going to go down: People either haven’t heard about the law, or forget about the new law, so they’ll park as they usually do and get a ticket. Each ticket will interrupt their pattern, offer a short-term pain that slowly encodes as a lesson until our everyday behavior changes. What won’t happen is people preparing to adjust their behavior in advance so that they don’t get into trouble once the law is being enforced. 

It’s the difference between being reactive to the consequences and proactive about preparing to do it right. It’s human nature to only make something a priority once it becomes a problem in an effort to conserve energy and do things in familiar ways. 

At the core of it, it’s this same bias that is responsible for moments where we lack self-control and give in to immediate pleasures over what benefits us the most. Like over-splurging on dessert, scrolling too long on social media, getting angry at a friend, or purchasing something that makes us feel good about ourselves.

Those that are proactive, and choose to invest in learning the lesson or making the changes before they’re needed, are less wasteful of their time, energy, and resources. It’s those who can think ahead and prepare today for what comes tomorrow that are in a better position to maximize the opportunities headed their way. 

Ultimately, being proactive over reactive is the result of two things: Awareness to know what you should be doing that most serves you, and discipline to follow through on that plan even when you don’t feel like it.

I call that living intentionally, and when you have a thoughtful reason for everything you do, with an understanding for the good and bad that could come from it, you start taking action in empowering ways that build the life you desire.