Habit 1: Be Proactive (2/4) – Choice & Response

Today, we will be looking at Stimulus, Choice & Response

STIMULUS is an external event that requires your response.

With the same Stimulus, Reactive people respond very differently from Proactive people.

Reactive people attribute their response to outside factors (circumstances).
Proactive people PAUSE and CHOOSE their response to situations based on sound principles.

In other words, Proactive people CHOOSE their response but Reactive people feel COMPELLED by their circumstances.

On night, a drunk teenager came back very late to the house. As his angry mother opened the door he said: “Mom, it was not my fault, all my friends decided that we should have a drink after the party. I had NO CHOICE, I had to be part of the group”. His twin sister also went to the same party but returned much earlier. She explained that once the cake was cut, she CHOSE to leave so that she would not be late as agreed with the parents.

What is in control of your response to situations? Your CHOICES or CIRCUMSTANCES?