Be Proactive

I love my mom to death, but there are differences in the way we live our lives. She reacts to problems, instead of acting beforehand to possibly avoid them. And now the problems are multiplying, so she can only react to each of them, instead of making a strategy to deal with them all at once. We just don't have the money.

My definition of proactive is to be prepared, to act beforehand. I'm not always proactive, but I try to be as much as possible. When I make a purchase with my credit card, I don't just pay the minimum balance, I pay extra. Sometimes I pay the full balance. Helps keep my account in good standing. I don't workout all the time, but I try to fit in a couple ab exercises and push ups when I'm pressed for time. Helps keep my body in good condition, so I can possibly avoid health problems in the future.

There's alot you can learn when you understand the difference between being proactive and reactive. Don't accept a telemarketing offer unless you can do research on whatever it is they're offering. When you get "pre-approved" for a credit card, don't just immediately sign up for it; instead do your research beforehand to see if that card is really for you. When I chose my bank, I did research on them before I opened an account with them to see if they offer a good service. And they do. And as a result, my bank account is in good standing. No fee is hidden. Before, I had an account with a cell phone company, but I didn't have this mindset until recently. So that cell phone company gave my information to a collection agency. I reacted to that situation, instead of proacting before my bill was late and avoiding the agency thing. See my point?

When you react, you're following someone elses lead. They make the decisions, and you react to them. I mean, it's bound to happen, for instance, like in the stock market. If you invested in a company, and stock prices are down, you have to react to protect your investment. So there are times when you have to react to situations. Since you know you'll face those situations, you have to have a proactive mindset, to keep those situations to a minimum.

You're your own boss. Don't react to life's situations and then struggle with life's problems. Take the reins, and steer your life in the right direction!