Proactive people: 12 traits and habits in common
We all know creative people, those who are continuously doing activities and who work hard to achieve their goals. Being proactive is going out to look for what you want and not wait for it to arrive by magic , because opportunities do not come alone and luck has to be sought.
- Related article: "How to attract luck, in 9 psychological keys"
How are proactive people
Proactive people create their own destiny and pursue their ambitions . In the following lines you can find a list with the characteristics of an ambitious person.
1. Connect with your needs and wishes
Proactive people they are people who are always on the move, and that's because they have a motivation for something . They are individuals who seek their own self-realization and, therefore, connect with their needs and desires. When a person is in tune with himself, he enters a state of flow and knows which direction to throw. That's why it's easy to be in continuous movement.
2. They know their strengths, but also their weaknesses
But these people not only know their needs and desires, but they know what their strengths and weaknesses are, which is positive as long as one accepts their own weaknesses and focuses on their strengths in order to move forward. This is key because it helps to trace the path and not get stuck in those weaknesses that one has .
3. They have long-term goals
Knowing oneself in all senses is the first step in knowing which goals one wants to pursue and what goals one has in life, and visualizing a future that a person wants is essential to be motivated and to know the direction in which the one that you want to throw. Proactive people have long-term goals .
4. But also in the short term: they live in the present
However, one can not only have long-term goals, because to achieve great goals you have to go step by step. This can only be achieved if, in addition to the long-term objectives, there are short and medium term objectives. . Living the present is necessary so as not to feel frustrated and to move forward in the path that you mark yourself.
5. High self-confidence
Self-confidence is a concept on which Albert Bandura theorized , a psychologist who proposed the Theory of Social Learning. According to this, the beliefs of self-confidence or self-efficacy determine to a large extent our success and our motivation, since they are the assessments we make of our abilities or abilities with respect to a specific task or activity. Proactive people enjoy a high confidence in themselves, which helps them overcome the obstacles that arise in the day to day.
- Related article: "Albert Bandura's self-efficacy: do you believe in yourself?"
6. Planning capacity
Proactive people are those who do not wait for things to happen, but go out to look for them. For this, they have objectives and plan the steps to follow to achieve them. Good planning avoids frustration and helps give feedback, which allows to be motivated throughout the goal acquisition process .
7. They self-motivate
And is that proactivity has a lot to do with motivation . Being a person who knows how to motivate is key to not give in to difficult situations. Self-motivation is one of the components of emotional intelligence, and it is a capacity that some people have to provide themselves with self-interest and the necessary drive even from difficult situations and in the face of adversity.
- Related article: "8 keys to maintain motivation and achieve your goals"
8. They do not fear uncertainty or change
The fear of uncertainty is one of the main fears that human beings can experience . This fear can be really disabling and interferes with the personal growth of a subject. In fact, it is considered a limiting belief and can cause a person not to take action despite wanting something with all his strength.
- If you want to know more about what is the fear of uncertainty, you can read our article: "Fear of uncertainty: 8 keys to overcome it"
9. Live outside your comfort zone
Fear of uncertainty can lead a person to live in the comfort zone . A psychological space in which an individual feels more comfortable and secure, because uncertainty can often produce anxiety for the unknown. Proactive people are not afraid to live far from the comfort zone and, in addition, they like to experiment with new things.
10. Value different alternatives and solve problems
Some individuals often avoid coping with problems, because in this way they believe that they avoid discomfort . Proactive people, on the other hand, look at the difficult situations in front of them and look for solutions to the problems that occur in their day to day.In fact, they have a great capacity to propose different alternatives when giving solutions.
11. They learn from mistakes
Proactive people learn from mistakes, because they think these are opportunities to grow . Life has good times and bad moments, but it is useless to stay anchored in the past and lamenting for situations that do not go as we wished. To move forward, it is necessary to accept and treat oneself with compassion.
12. They are persistent
Persistent people are those who overcome the obstacles that are on the road, which remain at the bottom of the canyon despite the adversities . They work hard until they achieve success, that is, they are always moving and do not stop. Persistence is one of the keys to success. Without doubt, there is a close relationship between being persistent and being proactive.