The 12 Rules of Survival ~ This is a VERY impressive list of what successful survivors do. These rules can also be applied to life in general. My analysis of each rule below.
Catherine Austin Fitts believes Gonzales’ book is the one of the most definitive books on survival into the 21st century. Catherine Fitts used to be the Assistant Secretary of Housing – Federal Housing Commissioner, Bush I. She’s been privy to quite a bit. She would know about survivalism into our questionable future.
The original unabreviated list was written by Laurence Gonzales, Author of “Deep Survival”
Personally, I think this list is brilliant. Brilliant for life in general, as well as survival. Here’s the list, my observations in grey italics.
1. “Perceive and Believe. Don’t fall into the deadly trap of denial or of immobilizing fear. Admit it: You’re really in trouble and you’re going to have to get yourself out… Survivors see opportunity, even good, in their situation, however grim. Don’t candycoat… Panic can lead to simply doing nothing.”
Denying the reality of the situation or sticking your head in the sand can leave you open and helpless with your a** flying in the breeze. Sorry if I’m a little too graphic.
2. “Stay Calm – Use Your Anger. In the initial crisis, survivors are not ruled by fear; instead, they make use of it. Their fear often feels like (and turns into) anger, which motivates them and makes them feel sharper. …Survivors manage pain well…”
Fear can lead to anger, anger can give you strength to do what’s necessary. Use energy anger wisely. Pain is a teacher, indicator, motivator. Use it.
3. “Think, Analyze, and Plan. Survivors quickly organize, set up routines, and institute discipline.”
My friend says it’s all about RULES (esp in my case). For me, steps are CRUCIAL. Without, there’s misdirection and wasted, fruitless energy expended.
4. “Take Correct, Decisive Action. Survivors are willing to take risks to save themselves and others. …Survivors break down large jobs into small, manageable tasks. They set attainable goals and develop short-term plans to reach them. They are meticulous about doing those tasks well.”
Well you just have to be smart and brave to follow this one. THINK is what my Dad always used to say.
5. “Celebrate your success. Survivors take great joy from even their smallest successes. This helps keep motivation high and prevents a lethal plunge into hopelessness. It also provides relief from the unspeakable strain of a life-threatening situation. …A good survivor always tells herself: count your blessings–you’re alive.”
This can really offer a tremendous amount of relief. Despair can be a MAJOR wet blanket on a cold day.
6. “Be a Rescuer, Not a Victim. People cannot survive for themselves alone; their must be a higher motive. Viktor Frankl put it this way: “Don’t aim at success – the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it.”
Interesting. Especially about aiming for success. For sure I believe we were designed to be givers. When we are giving, we are at our best. Doing for others is the best way to do for ourselves. As for aiming for success… perhaps it’s better to aim to do for someone else.
7. “Enjoy the Survival Journey. It may seem counterintuitive, but even in the worst circumstances, survivors find something to enjoy, some way to play and laugh. Lost in the Bolivian jungle, Yossi Ghinsberg reported, “When I found myself feeling hopeless, I whispered my mantra, ‘Man of action, man of action.’ I don’t know where I had gotten the phrase… I repeated it over and over: A man of action does whatever he must, isn’t afraid, and doesn’t worry.”
If you only have this one moment, might as well make it as positive as possible. What else is there but to cherish the moment?
8. “See the Beauty. Survivors are attuned to the wonder of their world, especially in the face of mortal danger. The appreciation of beauty, the feeling of awe, opens the senses to the environment. (When you see something beautiful, your pupils actually dilate.) ”
Sometimes beauty can blind us to the pain of the moment, make us forget our desperation. Someone said, “there’s beauty in everything.”
9. “Believe That You Will Succeed. It is at this point, following what I call “the vision,” that the survivor’s will to live becomes firmly fixed. Fear of dying falls away, and a new strength fills them with the power to go on.”
It’s amazing how powerful belief and faith are. If the mind believes, the body will follow. We have an army of a billion cells at our beck and call.
10. “Surrender. Yes you might die. In fact, you wil die–we all do. But perhaps it doesn’t have to be today. Don’t let it worry you. Forget about rescue. Everything you need is inside you already. …One survival psychologist calls that “resignation without giving up. It is survival by surrender.”
Surrender opens the door to some form of greater purpose and that it’s not just all about “self.” Accepting what IS. And being humble about it.
11. “Do Whatever Is Necessary. Survivors believe that anything is possible and act accordingly.”
It’s about belief again along with sallying forth and doing what’s necessary. ACT. Indecision and Inaction lead to… failure.
12. “Never Give Up. If you’re still alive, there is always one more thing that you can do. Survivors are not easily discouraged by setbacks. They accept that the environment is constantly changing and know that they must adapt. When they fall, they pick themselves up and start the entire process over again, breaking it down into manageable bits.”
“…Survivors always have a clear reason for going on. They keep their spirits up by developing an alternate world, created from rich memories, into which they can escape. They see opportunity in adversity. ”
“…Those who would survive the hazards of our world, whether at play or in business or at war, through illness or financial calamity, will do so through a journey of transformation. But that transcendent state doesn’t miraculously appear when it is needed. It wells up from a lifetime of experiences, attitudes, and practices form one’s personality, a core from which the necessary strength is drawn. A survival experience is an incomparable gift: It will tell you who you really are.”
So much rich in Number 12 that had to quote a bunch. Nothing for me to say on this one.
