Such a model neglects our ability to choose how we will respond to stimuli. We can choose to be reactive to our environment. For example, if the weather is good, we will be happy. If the weather is bad, we will be unhappy. We also can choose to be proactive and not let our situation determine how we will feel.
Reactive behavior can be a self-fulfilling prophesy.
By accepting that there is nothing we can do about our situation, we in fact become passive and do nothing. The first habit of highly effective people is proactivity . Proactive people are driven by values that are independent of the weather or how people treat them. Our response to what happened to us that affects us more than what actually happened. We can choose to use difficult situations to build our character and develop the ability to better handle such situations in the future.