day no. 15,122: initiative shapes; passivity is shaped

"Ideally, operational commanders fight only when and where they want to. Their ability to do this is largely a function of their ability to maintain the initiative and shape the events of war to their purposes. 'In war it is all-important to gain and retain the initiative, to make the enemy conform to your action, to dance to your tune.' Retaining the initiative, in turn, is largely the product of maintaining a higher operational tempo, which we will discuss later in this chapter." -- MCDP 1-2: Campaigning

Initiative is inescapable. Your life and livelihood will be determined by initiative: either yours or someone else's. There is no scenario where you live uninfluenced by internal drive or external force. Someone's initiative will force your hand. Make that initiative yours and move your hands where you want it to go or withhold it from where you don't want it to end up.

Initiative shapes, passivity is shaped.

Be a man. Have agency. Look to God. Observe all He commands by working your hands as hard as you can.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might