Are you proactive or reactive?

If you haven’t already read “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey I strongly recommend you do so. This book can be applied to every area of your life. For instance, the first habit really made me think of fitness.

So, which kind of person are you?

Covey describers two types of people: proactive and reactive. On page 71 he says “Reactive people are often affected by their physical environment. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn’t, it affects their attitude and their performance. Proactive people can carry their own weather with them. Whether it rains or shines makes no difference to them.” Obviously, we aren’t literally talking weather here.

It is not necessarily what happens to you, but how you react to it that determines whether you are reactive or proactive. To put it in fitness terms, answer this question below:

Fitness is a huge priority for you. Your week is jam packed with work, tasks, and errands, leaving very little time to spend at the gym. You:
a.) Make time for these things.
b.) Skip this week because you don’t have the time.

Did you pick b? Don’t feel bad, most people would. And most people are reactive. The proactive person doesn’t use the phrase “I don’t have time” because the proactive person knows that their time is their choice.

Reactive people blame others. Proactive people take responsibility. Let’s take responsibility for our actions and our health. No more wishing we had time to workout more or make healthier meals — lets just do it. Let’s be proactive, acknowledge difficulties and find ways around them. I for one have been a reactive person for a very long time without even realizing it, so I am very excited to understand, acknowledge, and make a positive change in my life — because I am responsible for my happiness, not anyone or any situation.

Where are you putting your effort?

The other idea in the first habit that I thought was really applicable to fitness was the circle of influence and the circle of concern:

Covey describers the circle of concern as the stuff you have no control over — the things you can’t do anything about. The circle of influence is full of things you can do things about. Your goal is to give more to your circle of influence and ignore your circle of concern; if you can’t fix it, forget it.

Let’s say you have commited to try a “Couch to 5k” program, and on the first day of your training you lace up to find it raining outside. The fact that it is raining needs to go in your circle of concern; unless you have discovered a way to control the weather, there is absolutely nothing you can do about that. What you can control is how you will get your training in still. Do you have a gym membership? A treadmill? Are you opposed to running in the rain? By focusing on what you can do you are providing yourself with solutions without the burden of stress.

Happiness is a choice, just like being fit and active. You can sit home complaining about your weight/body/how you feel , or, you can go out there and do something about it. You are in control of your life.

Have you read this book before? Are you a reactive or proactive person? Do you stress out about things you have no control over?