Proactivity is the Most Effective Remedy for a Healthy Life

Welcome to Career Advise, the newsletter providing career advice, how-tos, and life musings through an optimistic and intriguing lens.

Each week, you will receive two newsletters written by the Oppstartr Team. Mondays — Our career-focused newsletter. Fridays — Out of Office where we discuss life and other thought-provoking ideas.

Happy Friday to you all, and welcome to Out of Office, the weekend edition of Career Advise.

If you’re scratching your head after reading the newsletter title, it’s for a good reason. You, my friend, are experiencing déjà vu. If the previous sentence left you confused, let me clarify. Last week, I posted “24 Thoughts for 2024,” sharing various ideas worth contemplating in anticipation of the new year. If you missed it, follow the link above.

Nestled within that post, I shared thought number 10, “Proactivity is the most effective remedy for a healthy life.” This thought originated from a conversation Jake and I had. We were discussing newsworthy items, and the topic of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists surfaced. If you found that phrase confusing, you should have seen the look on my face. Fortunately, Jake works in the Wild West of healthcare, so he simplified the foreign terminology. Essentially, this drug class improves blood sugar control and may also aid in weight loss. If you’re itching to learn more, I’ve included an article from Mayo Clinic.

The discussion began with the trending drug, Ozempic. Now, where am I taking this? Bear with me. Individuals without type-2 diabetes are increasingly flocking to this “miracle” drug to assist with weight loss. They’ve heard of the positive outcomes and want a piece of the action. Jake and I dove into the dangers of a reactive healthcare system and society at large. Rather than looking for a quick fix, what if we embraced regular exercise? What if we obtained our vitamins from whole, nutrient-dense foods? What if we became more open with sharing our feelings? I believe practicing proactivity could yield positive results. Moreover, the concept of proactivity extends beyond physical and mental health.

Many of the most fulfilled and successful people I know exhibit proactive tendencies, applicable in the workplace, friendships, marriages, and virtually every aspect of life. Consider the proactive individual in the workplace. They are someone who takes ownership of their career while anticipating future problems and offering thoughtful solutions. They likely consume books or podcasts outside of work to accelerate their promotion timeline. In friendships, proactive individuals effortlessly send encouraging texts, organize spontaneous get-togethers, and are the first to offer condolences for the passing of a loved one. In marriages, a proactive couple addresses disagreements with effective communication from the start, engages in shared goals, and collaborates on daily to-dos. I could continue, but you get the picture.

Being proactive enhances our well-being, leading to numerous positive effects. Feeling better translates to happiness, positivity, and confidence. Aren’t all these things worth pursuing?

This weekend, I challenge you all to spend time thinking about ways in which you can embrace a more proactive approach in various aspects of your life. With implementation, over time, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the associated benefits.

Thank you for reading Career Advise. Be sure to read our upcoming issue on Monday where we focus on our first pillar: Temper the Mind.

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