The Survival Mindset

The Survival Mindset

By Jim Cobb

As many of my readers know, I love to talk about the mental aspects of survival just as much, if not more than, the physical preparations. The so-called soft skills like interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, leadership, they are all vitally important for day to day living as well as true survival. Part of the reason I like to focus on these elements is because I see it come up so rarely in survival texts and discussions.

I’m not the only one, of course. Folks like Craig Caudill and Jason Hunt, for example, talk about them as well. But, as a general rule, if you pick up a survival manual you’re going to find instructions on building a solar still far more often than you’ll see information on defusing conflicts before they get violent.

Which is kind of sad, given that the odds of you getting into a potentially violent encounter with someone far outweigh the odds of you being able to survive on the amount of water typically generated by a plastic covered hole in the ground.

The most critical survival space is inside your head

When you get right down to it, survival begins and ends in the space between your ears. You have no doubt heard the vaunted Rule of Threes — You can survive 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food. Before ANY of that comes into play, though, is MINDSET. All of the supplies on the planet won’t do you a lick of good if you lack hope or a positive outlook. If you are convinced you’re going to die, odds are you will.

If you find yourself in a bad situation, such as you’re lost in the woods or the power has suddenly flicked off and it looks like it won’t be back on for quite some time, it is okay to be a little nervous. A bit of fear is only natural. But, don’t let it override common sense, logic, and the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired through training and education. That’s where the survival mindset comes into play.

Training

A Greek poet and soldier named Anchilochus said that under stress we do not rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training. While absolutely true, our attitude is what will get us off our ass and take that first step. You have to believe, at a molecular level, that you will prevail, that you will survive to see the sun come up the next morning, no matter what it takes.

For some, perhaps you’ll be motivated by the thought of your family being without you. For others, maybe there is a religious angle, a belief that a higher power is there to help you.

Some folks might just have too much ego to allow them to fail. Whatever it is that keeps you moving toward the goal is a valuable tool and one that should be embraced. This is why some instructors advise keeping something that would be personally motivational in your survival kit, such as a photo of your family or a pocket-size religious text of your choice.

Ultimately, it is your mindset that will determine success or failure. That’s true of virtually any endeavor, too. Keep your head in the game and keep moving forward.

About the author

Jim Cobb is a well known freelance author on survival and other topics.

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