- Messages
- 318
- Reactions
- 681
There.
I said it.
No one likes to admit it, but we all base allot of our decisions and actions today on fearful thoughts.
How is that going to play in a SHTF situation?
I'm just gonna talk about this like everyone is SCARED.
That way, we don't have to admit it, even to ourselves, if we don't want to.
Managing your fear.
It doesn't really matter what's driving this. If it's a deep set personal insecurity, or if the fear is based in reality. Fact is, until you get over your fear, you are handicapping yourself and those around you.
I'm no psychiatrist, not even close, but I'm going to attempt to define it and a few other things here for you.
What is fear?
Fear is not REAL. It's an emotional response your mind produces and your body feels in a response to a situation, Real or perceived, the latter being the result of your brain interpreting a situation. That interpretation could be correct or incorrect. Situations can be real...or imagined, the latter also being a product of your brain.
It's important to be able to discern between a real threat, and one that your brain produced. If the threat is real, there is an appropriate action or response to it.
Fear is irrational. When you are experiencing fear, your decision making process may be clouded or even obscured. This generally leads to panic, because your mind discovers it can't come up with 2+2=4. But that's something else entirely. Let's just get back to fear.
I'm willing to bet if I asked you now when your not afraid, "Are you willing to bet your life on irrational thoughts, feelings, or ideas", you'd say No.
Awareness.
The ability to recognize your situation, your surroundings, in a realistic fashion. Kind of a data gathering for your brain, an ongoing evaluation. This is the 2+2 part of the equation.
The better this is, the more rational and realistic your solution or action, which is your =4
Caution. This is the thing we exercise to slow things down a bit, to allow our brain time to process rational and realistic interpretations of our surroundings and actions. It is a logical action for when danger is present.
Ok, so now we got some definitions.
What do we do about it?
Fear will be high in a SHTF situation. Don't let what you "Thought" you'd be afraid of cause you to conjure up that situation when SHTF. (Where the mind goes, the body follows...) Fear has a way to do that using your brain to come up with fear's little buddy, false perception. If you do, your decisions and actions may not be the best for you and your group, which I assume is your family...
Because fear will be high, (hopefully not in you) it is prudent to exercise Caution, (I.e. be careful) and it's important to mention that fear and caution aren't the same. Remember, Caution is a logical action when danger is present, and exercising it actually gets you out of a situation with rational thought before it ever gets close to fear. Most of the time. LOL!
How do you not be afraid?
First you need to learn to depend on you. You have to be able to trust yourself and have confidence in yourself to perform the tasks necessary for you and the people you are with to survive/thrive.
How do you do that?
Practice. Do the things you would need to do now, before your life depends on it, and you'll be less fearful when your life and the lives of others are on the line. Familiarity with a process, procedure, action you have to take, will help you manage yourself and others better under stress or fear.
I'm not saying throw yourself and your loved ones in a SHTF situation today, and see how you fare.
There are ways to practice things, run drills, etc. that will make them easier to do when you really have to do them and the chips are down. Gotta give your brain something to "Lean" on, if you will. Now instead of "OMFG, I've never done this before"!! it'll be "OK, I got this, and although the stakes are higher, the action is the same".
Some suggestions:
If you Think you might have trouble dealing with people, Practice dealing with them today. Barter, yard sale, Dickering over price, etc.
Think you might have problems driving your vehicle on an off road trail to go around the interstate? Do it today. Make it an adventure. Make sure you're prepared for it.
Practice the tasks and skills you'll need to perform or possess.
This includes range time, target threat assessment, employing the (mock) use of force (against a paper target) moving and shooting, etc. so it's not all bad!! About the only thing you can't do is simulate the life or death "target shoots back", but even some of that can be handled by paintball or FOF drills.
The wisdom and knowledge you will gain on this will be priceless to you should something happen to our world.
We all have this wonderful safety net around us called society. Realistically, it's a very thin veil, that can be pierced by practically anything. We all should use this opportunity to practice, among other things, the things that make us fearful, so when the S really does HTF, we are PREPARED. And consequently, a little less fearful of the world we live in.
Well, that's probably the best I could do with it. Anyone else got anything?
I said it.
No one likes to admit it, but we all base allot of our decisions and actions today on fearful thoughts.
How is that going to play in a SHTF situation?
I'm just gonna talk about this like everyone is SCARED.
That way, we don't have to admit it, even to ourselves, if we don't want to.
Managing your fear.
It doesn't really matter what's driving this. If it's a deep set personal insecurity, or if the fear is based in reality. Fact is, until you get over your fear, you are handicapping yourself and those around you.
I'm no psychiatrist, not even close, but I'm going to attempt to define it and a few other things here for you.
What is fear?
Fear is not REAL. It's an emotional response your mind produces and your body feels in a response to a situation, Real or perceived, the latter being the result of your brain interpreting a situation. That interpretation could be correct or incorrect. Situations can be real...or imagined, the latter also being a product of your brain.
It's important to be able to discern between a real threat, and one that your brain produced. If the threat is real, there is an appropriate action or response to it.
Fear is irrational. When you are experiencing fear, your decision making process may be clouded or even obscured. This generally leads to panic, because your mind discovers it can't come up with 2+2=4. But that's something else entirely. Let's just get back to fear.
I'm willing to bet if I asked you now when your not afraid, "Are you willing to bet your life on irrational thoughts, feelings, or ideas", you'd say No.
Awareness.
The ability to recognize your situation, your surroundings, in a realistic fashion. Kind of a data gathering for your brain, an ongoing evaluation. This is the 2+2 part of the equation.
The better this is, the more rational and realistic your solution or action, which is your =4
Caution. This is the thing we exercise to slow things down a bit, to allow our brain time to process rational and realistic interpretations of our surroundings and actions. It is a logical action for when danger is present.
Ok, so now we got some definitions.
What do we do about it?
Fear will be high in a SHTF situation. Don't let what you "Thought" you'd be afraid of cause you to conjure up that situation when SHTF. (Where the mind goes, the body follows...) Fear has a way to do that using your brain to come up with fear's little buddy, false perception. If you do, your decisions and actions may not be the best for you and your group, which I assume is your family...
Because fear will be high, (hopefully not in you) it is prudent to exercise Caution, (I.e. be careful) and it's important to mention that fear and caution aren't the same. Remember, Caution is a logical action when danger is present, and exercising it actually gets you out of a situation with rational thought before it ever gets close to fear. Most of the time. LOL!
How do you not be afraid?
First you need to learn to depend on you. You have to be able to trust yourself and have confidence in yourself to perform the tasks necessary for you and the people you are with to survive/thrive.
How do you do that?
Practice. Do the things you would need to do now, before your life depends on it, and you'll be less fearful when your life and the lives of others are on the line. Familiarity with a process, procedure, action you have to take, will help you manage yourself and others better under stress or fear.
I'm not saying throw yourself and your loved ones in a SHTF situation today, and see how you fare.
There are ways to practice things, run drills, etc. that will make them easier to do when you really have to do them and the chips are down. Gotta give your brain something to "Lean" on, if you will. Now instead of "OMFG, I've never done this before"!! it'll be "OK, I got this, and although the stakes are higher, the action is the same".
Some suggestions:
If you Think you might have trouble dealing with people, Practice dealing with them today. Barter, yard sale, Dickering over price, etc.
Think you might have problems driving your vehicle on an off road trail to go around the interstate? Do it today. Make it an adventure. Make sure you're prepared for it.
Practice the tasks and skills you'll need to perform or possess.
This includes range time, target threat assessment, employing the (mock) use of force (against a paper target) moving and shooting, etc. so it's not all bad!! About the only thing you can't do is simulate the life or death "target shoots back", but even some of that can be handled by paintball or FOF drills.
The wisdom and knowledge you will gain on this will be priceless to you should something happen to our world.
We all have this wonderful safety net around us called society. Realistically, it's a very thin veil, that can be pierced by practically anything. We all should use this opportunity to practice, among other things, the things that make us fearful, so when the S really does HTF, we are PREPARED. And consequently, a little less fearful of the world we live in.
Well, that's probably the best I could do with it. Anyone else got anything?
