Acting vs. reacting.

Acting and reacting are two different mindsets. One takes charge of a situation while the latter waits for the scenario to warrant action. Negligence develops from procrastination. We don’t need to do everything at once, but  we need to do something. 

In our journey towards a peaceful life, it is imperative to understand the importance of taking action. When reacting, we are not in control. This reaction to an external source creates uncertainty and increases stress. By acting, our decisions are from withing as we take control of the situation. 

“What if we fail or make things worse?” 

In simple terms, we cannot break broke. It is already broken. Never fret over increasing degradation by trying to correct the problem. Acting is better than nothing. We may need to hire a professional or call a friend, but implementing a solution puts us in a better mindset than waiting for an emergency. As soon as we find a problem, we begin to worry. Some may worry more than others, but the stress effects us all. As the situation grows, so does our anxiety. By acting, we are implementing control, and that provides relief. Our problems may not have a solution, but we are doing something, and that leads to a resolution. 

“But I don’t know how to fix it.”

Welcome to “A rainy day.” Remember when our grandparents told us to put money back for a rainy day. They weren’t speaking literally. Nope, they were referring to not so sunny days. When the washer decides it has had enough and goes on strike right after sudsing up our clothes. Then the dryer turns in its resignation letter as well. That’s enough to make anyone scream, “Expletive!” When it rains, it pours, right? There will come a time when we need to hire a professional. Everyone has a story similar to this. The difference is some of us plan for emergencies, and some of us don’t. 

Having that extra cash buys peace of mind. How much should we have in savings for that rainy day? There is no magical number, but one year’s wage is a good start if an amount is necessary. Yes, that is a lot for most of us. But with proper planning, we can achieve it. Remember, there is always a reason to spend our savings. So we must find a reason to save. 

When times get tough, can we afford not to have those savings? 

Let’s switch gears and look at procrastination. Give me a deadline, and I’ll meet it a week later.  Trust me. I get stressed out when placed under a clock. A get-it-done-date may motivate some, but that isn’t me. Clutter, procrastination, lack of research are a few stressors associated with meeting the due date. It is human nature to push through to the deadline. However, we need to implement the best action.  That may include stopping the project to declutter and gather quality information. Despite the anxiety associated with pausing a project, everything begins to make sense, and progressions are more comfortable to achieve once we have some sort of organization. 

Acting creates a better product than reacting. With more time afforded to the task at hand, there is room to correct any errors that may come our way. There is nothing worse than not having time for plan B or plan C. 

If things are getting behind, don’t wait until the deadline to let others know. Assessing our timeline during our “organizational time” will let us know if we should alert others. Plan for the worse, but expect the best. 

When we act, we are leading, and when we react, we are following. Even if we are passing a project off to someone else, do it promptly. Timely action will prevent our assistant from reacting to the situation.  No one guarantees that they won’t react to our decision. 

Until the next blog, live life and be happy.