Habit 1: Be Proactive

The first habit, "Be Proactive," emphasizes taking responsibility for one's own life and choices. Being proactive means that you recognize you are responsible for your life and that your behavior is a function of your decisions, not your conditions. Proactive people understand that they have control over their actions and responses, regardless of external circumstances. Instead of blaming parents, circumstances, or conditions for their behavior, they focus on areas of life that lie within their circle of influence.

Proactivity is about more than merely taking initiative. It involves recognizing our responsibility to make things happen. When we're proactive, we don't blame circumstances, conditions, or others. Instead, we focus on the things within our control and try to realize change through them. We work on things we can do something about, which always results in progress. Covey states that "our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions".

The concept of Circle of Influence versus Circle of Concern is central to this habit. Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence – things they can do something about. The nature of their energy is positive, enlarging and magnifying, causing their Circle of Influence to increase. Reactive people, however, focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern – problems in the environment and circumstances over which they have no control.

The language we use reflects our proactive or reactive mindset. Reactive people use phrases like "That's just the way I am," "There's nothing I can do," or "I have to do it". Proactive people, on the other hand, use language like "I will," "I choose," or "I prefer".

Practical Example: When faced with a difficult project at work with tight deadlines, a proactive person looks for the first step they can take toward solving the problem rather than blaming external circumstances. They identify potential obstacles and try to address them proactively before they become problematic. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, they break down the project into manageable tasks, prioritize them, and set a timeline for completion. This proactive approach allows them to maintain control and make progress, even under challenging conditions.