How taking positive proactive action can transform your perspective

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It’s 11:30 pm and I’m irritatingly wide awake. Eventually, I realize that I’ve got to do SOMETHING in order to get some rest for my body, mind, and heart. It’s time to take some positive proactive action.

You see, it was one of those days – raging migraine most of the day, other body pain, and then a relationship conflict. Now, after hours of pain and analyzing, my mind won’t shut down. The same messages are on repeat. For hours.

Ever been there? You desperately want some sleep. You remind yourself that a good night’s sleep will help you feel so much better the next day.

Hey, body, you love to sleep! I love to sleep! Let’s sleep together.

via GIPHY

But gosh darn it, you’re stuck on this irritating loop and still awake. Still thinking the same dang thought.

After two hours-ish of this (I finally checked my watch), I realized that I needed to take some positive proactive action. And you know what? It’s helped ease my busy mind and help me finally get a little sleep. (Though I’m definitely a work in progress!)

Friend, I hope this simple concept comes in handy for YOU when you’re encountering frustrating situations.

You can live intentionally with passion and purpose as God’s beloved.

Let’s talk about what positive proactive action might mean for you!

What is positive proactive action?

Positive proactive action is a wonderful little gem that my husband and I have claimed for ourselves.

In a nutshell, positive proactive action is all about taking proactive steps toward addressing issues. It’s essential that these steps are positive.

(We’ve all been there when someone took proactive action and bulldozed everyone in their path. Maybe it was you! I’ve been that person, too…)

Taking positive proactive action has been a game-changer for me. It helps when you’re stuck…

• On a mental loop
• In an unhealthy and/or upsetting relationship dynamic
• In a health rut
• With how you’re managing your time and energy
• With overwhelm or irritation with your resources (like your stuff, budget, etc.)

What Paul wrote to the Corinthians about navigating temptations can also apply to internal conflict:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

So what could positive proactive action look like in your life?

Positive proactive action is about owning your part in the struggle

It’s not about pointing fingers, attacking, or hurting others in order to “get yours.” More often than not that means acknowledging how you’re contributing to the issue and what you are feeling. It’s not about determining the intention behind someone else’s actions. It’s simply owning what you have or haven’t done.

For instance, if you’re consistently waking up too late each morning, you need to acknowledge what and how you might be contributing to the problem. Are you staying up too late watching TV, playing a game or reading? Are you eating or drinking foods that make you more wakeful? You get the gist.

(Great conflict resolution tips here!)

Positive proactive action means responding in a timely manner to a situation.

You don’t just let it build up until a) you feel like exploding (and probably do!) and b) it gets awkward and/or impossible to deal with it. If it involves others, it can leave them wondering:

• This was an issue?
• Why didn’t you address this sooner?
• How long has this been bothering you?
• Does our relationship matter so little that you can’t talk about the challenging stuff with me?
• And so forth.

(Note: This doesn’t mean you immediately jump in and start shouting  – that’s not positive proactive action! It does mean you thoughtfully consider action and take it.)

Positive proactive action means being willing to experience discomfort now to pursue greater peace.

This isn’t about merely “keeping the peace.”

Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God…”

Matthew 5:9

Do you know what Jesus doesn’t say? Blessed are the peacekeepers.

No, he encourages his beloved children to pursue peace, which is so much more than merely keeping the peace.

Sometimes that means you and someone else may be uncomfortable. They and you may not be immediately happy about it. It may add a weird dynamic to your relationship in the short term.

Sometimes that means addressing things that are bothering you or hurting you. Sometimes that means setting healthy boundaries for your own well-being (and perhaps theirs!).

But you know what? Those hard conversations matter.

If you care about this relationship, you’re going to fight for it. Remember, this isn’t about fighting the person. It’s about fighting for a relationship that you care about. It’s about seeking true growth and restoration.

(Not sure how to get started with setting boundaries! Read 10+ Excellent Resources for Setting Healthy Boundaries!)

Positive proactive action means taking the most immediate healthy action to begin moving forward

For me, it meant getting out of bed and writing down the phrase that keeps pounding in my head. And subsequently writing about positive proactive action – so you, too, have this powerful tool in your toolkit, and to remind me about how utterly essential it is!

Sometimes taking positive proactive action means getting up and moving your body. Or drinking water. Or starting conversations about boundaries. And so forth.

(Take it further with these 10 Practical, Peace-Giving Positive Proactive Action Ideas You Can Use Today!)

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Wrapping up: How taking positive proactive action can transform your perspective

Friend, I’m a work in progress when it comes to taking positive proactive action. I often spend far too many hours stuck in a loop until I finally realize that what I’m doing isn’t working.

I can confidently tell you, though, that when I do remember to follow through with positive proactive action, it is so life-giving. I want that for you, too.

To recap, positive proactive action is all about:

• Owning what’s your responsibility
• Responding in a timely manner
• Seeking true peace, even if that means some initial discomfort
• Doing the most immediate healthy action that will help you move forward

Positive proactive action is NOT about:

• Attacking others – no finger-pointing, hate spiels, shaming, or the like
• Ignoring a situation in the hopes it magically disappears
• Finally addressing a situation after a long duration and exploding
• Sitting in the mess instead of moving forward

You can live intentionally with passion and purpose as God’s beloved.

(Let’s be honest – haven’t most of us crossed over into the unhealthy way of responding? I totally have and still do! Here’s to spurring each other on to do good work and grow in this area. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can do this!)

In my next post, we’ll discuss some concrete, practical ways to take positive proactive action.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

What does positive proactive action look like for you? Let’s talk in the comments!

P.S. Want some crazy simple steps to start living intentionally? Grab the Embrace Your Potential Playbook. It’ll help you zoom in on your God-gifted personality and give you practical tips to be more intentional, passionate, and purposeful as God’s beloved so you can become the best version of yourself.