Proactive Vs. Cautious

proactive is acting in advance to deal with an expected change or difficulty while cautious is careful; using or exercising caution; tentative.

I find that I often meet people who don't understand how these two traits work together. Or they often times don't understand when to use one versus the other. While I believe it is wise to proceed with caution, I find that caution usually fills people with fear and prevents them from progressing. People who lead with a proactive approach, on the other hand, don't shy away from the risk but instead prepare for it.

Here is an example of being proactive: Diana wants her future marriage to be the best it can be. She knows that there are ups and downs in all relationships. She would like to be proactive and meet with a counselor while she and her fiancé are still new and learning the ins and outs of each other to gain tools to help them when the downs occur. That way they are prepared to come out on top together as a team!

Here is an example of being cautious: Mark thought Katrina had both good and bad qualities (duh, who doesn't.) He was afraid of what Katrinas bad qualities could result in down the line so he ended their relationship taking caution in case Katrinas bad qualities became worse.

Yes, cautious can also be looking both ways before crossing the street. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be cautious in life but should we always use caution in place of proactive actions? Doesn't only using caution result in avoidance of real life?

I am a proactive person. I like that about me. I am not afraid of some scary things. I believe we all experience fear or uncomfortable situations in life. Trying to avoid them would have prevented me from experiencing the joys I have discovered through my journey and I still would have ended up with those negative interactions anyway. Trust me, downs are inevitable. Stop trying to avoid them. Instead, consider taking a proactive approach to prepare for how you will deal with them as they come.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, counseling or therapy is a sure fire method of being proactive. Speaking to a professional about how you handle certain life situations could equip you with new ideas on how to handle them in the future. These tools can make the downs easier or more in your favor. Counseling isn't just reactive to solve a current problem. People exercise for 2 reasons right? 1: To lose weight & 2: To maintain your physical health. Counseling is the same. You can use it to improve your mental health or you can use it to maintain your mental health.

How cautious and proactive are you? How do you feel about the decisions you make?

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#counseling #therapy #proactive #cautious #wellness