Many of us get
overwhelmed with life from time to time. We have so many things that we are
responsible for on a daily basis. Whether it is building a relationship with a
loved one, paying bills, or balancing our budget, life can be challenging at
times. I have discovered that when we get overwhelmed with our
responsibilities, rather than being responsive to the circumstances of life, we
sometimes begin to be reactive, and, that is where trouble begins. When we
become reactive, we often say or do things that we later regret. It is not
healthy to live in a reactive mode. However, when we are responsive instead, we
give ourselves a little more time and margin in the circumstances of life. We
can take the necessary steps to plan ahead so as not to end up on a dead-end
street.
Stop and think
for a moment. When do you get the most stressed in your own personal life?
Isn't it when you are running out of time or options in a particular situation
or set of circumstances? When that happens, we no longer have the ability to
use our best judgment and thinking in order to be responsive in a healthy way.
We begin to have a "knee-jerk" reaction and behave in a reactive way.
And, that is not a very good thing for anyone involved.
Years ago,
when I first started my business, I was having a conversation with a friend of
mine. He was much older and wiser in business and was doing all that he could
to help me get started. As we talked, he said, "Your office is not very
responsive." I asked what he meant by that. He told me that he had to call
several times to get the answer to one simple question and that he often felt
he got the run-around. That really disturbed me. I was not aware of that
situation. But, as I said, that was almost 10 years ago when I was first trying
to get my business up and running and knew very little about it myself. He told
me that one of the most important things a business can do is to be responsive.
He said when you communicate clearly and in a timely fashion, it helps people
feel better about their relationship with you, not only in business, but on a
personal level as well. He said if you are not responsive in your business
dealings, you will soon become reactive. Those reactions may then necessitate
damage control, which requires more time, effort, and energy and often creates
unnecessary stress.
Even though
the conversation was a little painful at the time, it was very much needed. I
certainly received what he said to me because he was a trusted friend. I had a
good talk with my staff about it later and everyone agreed that we could do
better. That is what I am talking about. That is what it means to be responsive
and not reactive.
I do not know
what circumstances or situations you are facing in your own life or business,
but I can assure you that putting things off until the last minute and waiting
until the water level is very close to your nostrils is not wise and will not
offer you the opportunity to be responsive. You will become reactive because
your choices are limited.
Although I
have not mastered this principle yet, I certainly make it part of my daily
life. I have discovered that if I stay ahead of things that are coming up, it
gives me many more options, especially when there are issues that need to be adjusted
or modified. It is so much better to have a little bit of breathing room in
order to be responsive than it is to be out of oxygen and forced to be reactive
in trying to find a last minute solution.
Look into the way you do life yourself, whether it is in your school work, business relationship, or family life. Let me encourage you to think in terms of planning ahead and being more responsive in every area. It certainly creates a different dynamic in everything you do, and in the end, gives you more peace of mind.
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