Both fear and insecurity are debilitating conditions.
When you are fearful, you passively run away from situations.
When you are insecure, you actively fight against life and compulsively attempt to force something that cannot be accomplished by force.
There is nothing good or bad about being passive or active per se. There is only “wrong passivity” and “wrong activity.”
By using paradoxical intention and laughing at the absurdity of what you’re doing, you replace wrong passivity and wrong activity with right passivity.
Instead of being passive out of fear, you are passive in regard to what is not in your control. Trust generates the attitude that whatever happens is okay and that you don’t have to force the process because things will take care of themselves.
By using dereflection and focusing attention away from your self, you replace wrong activity with right activity.
Instead of being active out of self-absorption, you are actively seeking the unique meaning of your life. (pp. 258-259)
The term “proactive” connotes taking initiative to do what needs to be done. We might call the ability to step back and trust in a process “proactive passivity.” The common denominator of being both passive and active is paying attention to the task and the value it represents, while being conscious of who I am in relationship to it.