Proactive people take an active stance in their life by examining their character and deciding how to view themselves and situations. They believe they can control their own effectiveness rather than feeling the world is happening to them. There are four elements of proactivity: initiative, responsibility, self-reliance, and control. Proactive people take initiative by acting in advance of future situations instead of just reacting, take responsibility for their choices and circumstances, rely on themselves instead of others, and believe they can control their effectiveness.