What does it mean to be proactive? It means that a person with an active approach to life does not simply drift along like an amoeba, but actively analyzes their life situation. They do not just analyze it — they regularly set specific goals. And they do not merely set goals; they plan concrete steps to achieve them. Accordingly, if you identify potential problems while thinking through your path toward a goal, you have the opportunity to “lay the groundwork,” that is, to prevent the main possible obstacles in advance.

So what does a person with an active life position do? If an unforeseen complication arises, they do not tear their hair out while tragically asking, “Why me?” Instead, they calmly ask themselves, “What can I do in this situation?” and “What conclusions can I draw for the future so that this situation does not happen again?”

In this way, we worry less about every little thing while simultaneously regaining a sense of control over our lives — even if it is still limited — by turning difficult challenges into achievable and sometimes even exciting obstacles. After all, if we view any obstacle as a challenging but intriguing quest, life immediately takes on richer and more vivid colors!