Taking initiatives

 Have you ever wondered what it is that separates the go-getters from the people who like to sit in their desk chairs just waiting for situations to present themselves? The go-getters are proactive people while the waiters are reactive people. Proactive people believe that success is of their own making; it’s their responsibility to make things happen. They also believe that they have the skills and ability to make things happen and get things done. Reactive people wait for situations to present themselves before addressing them. Reactive people tend to be a little less self-confident than proactive people. If you’re going to embrace a positive mindset then you must start challenging yourself to take the initiative and make things happen. You can’t be afraid to fail. Have faith in yourself and your abilities. Ask yourself if you want to be the person who is making things happen and going places, or would you rather spin your wheels waiting for opportunities to present themselves. The following guidelines will help you perfect your ‘initiative taking’ skills.  1. First things first; positive, proactive people start every day with a positive attitude. Proactive people speak and act with confidence. Self-confidence is extremely important for living a positive life. Self-confidence is readily achievable; all you need is the determination to achieve it. When developing self-confidence the first thing you should do is reflect on the things you’ve already achieved. Look back on the things you’ve done in life that you are most proud of and reflect on the success you’ve already had. Next, take the time to reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). Use the SWOT analysis to assess what you’re good at (strengths), where you could improve (weaknesses), what opportunities are available for you to take initiative (opportunities), and use your strengths and consider what types of obstacles you are facing (threats). Once you’ve analyzed your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to taking initiative it’s time to eliminate negative self-talk from your vocabulary. Positive, proactive people practice building their self-confidence by consistently telling themselves “I can do this.” This is called thought awareness. You make the choice to fill your mind with positive encouragements. Finally, practicing self-confidence and taking initiative means committing yourself to success. On your journey to success, you will have to face thoughts of self-doubt. When this happens, write out your negative thoughts and calmly tell yourself how you will overcome negativity with positivity and enjoy the fruits of your success. Take the initiative to develop a positive mindset and you will activate the proactive individual inside just waiting to get out. 2. Challenge your way of doing things. Remember, a positive attitude is more than just a mindset; it’s a way of living. This is a habit you have to develop. Some of the best initiatives you can take are making small changes to old routines. Look for ways to be more efficient, make what you’re doing a little more enjoyable and get acquainted with taking small risks that will be worth your time. 3. Always look for opportunities. If you want to be a go-getter you have to stay on your toes. Practice looking at what you’re doing, what others are doing, and what can be done for improvement. Positive people are constantly looking for ways to grow. The trick is to train your mind to be observant and do this consistently. Learning to take initiative gives you the opportunity to practice your positivity. It takes self-confidence to be a proactive person and it often takes practice to develop this initiative. I know you have what it takes. As we progress through this section I am confident you will soon believe that you do have what it takes to be a go-getter and you will be creating opportunities for yourself (and your success) in no time.