Survive Anything

By Ken Jorgustin

Can you survive anything?

No, not literally anything; there are some “anything’s” that are out of your control.

But, there are things that you can do to improve your odds to survive most anything…

YOUR HEALTH

It all begins with your health. You must be able bodied for a reasonable chance of survival. You have far more control over your health than you may think. If you eat right, and exercise as you should, you will greatly reduce the odds of poor health. It’s as simple as that. You’ve probably heard the saying “You are what you eat”. For example, if you don’t over-eat, eat more whole foods (less processed foods), less sugar and less fat, you WILL be healthier. It’s entirely up to you. If you reasonably exercise for strength and stamina, you WILL become healthier. All survival begins with a healthy body. If you are not willing to take this first step, then ignore the rest of this article…

YOUR RISK AWARENESS

To survive, you must recognize and understand the risks that are around you (near and far). Some risks may be close by, obvious and tangible. Others are further away and less tangible – although they may be just as dangerous to you or even more. When you are out-and-about, pay attention to your surroundings. Be aware of your risky behavior and that of those near you. Some risks or risky behavior are quite obvious. You know it when you see it. Other risks are hidden (purposely or otherwise) and you must discover them yourself. Some risk awareness requires due-diligence on your part to discover. Expand your sources of “input”. Don’t rely on just yourself, or one or two sources of input. Be aware of mainstream media outlets telling you “the news”. Some is propaganda.

YOUR ABILITY TO ADAPT

Many people are unwilling to change their habits or behaviors. Even for those who are willing, it is sometimes difficult to break a routine or do something outside of your comfort zone. It’s easy to stand still while it is harder to get in motion. To survive, we must be ready and able to adapt to changing circumstances. We must put aside our assumptions and “think outside the box”. Our preconceived notions are sometimes incorrect. Be nimble.

YOUR PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE

If you don’t know anything, then how can you survive? We must learn practical solutions to many problems and at least have the knowledge how to survive under varying circumstances. Knowledge is gained through learning and experience. Never before have we as humans had such a luxury for learning as the internet. There is a wealth of information out there – although be aware that everything you read is not necessarily true! Expand your learning horizons. Seek out the basics for survival. Know and understand how to survive without the systems which we take for granted today. Learn practical skills.

YOUR PREPAREDNESS PLANS

Being prepared is a key to survival. Being prepared begins with planning. Have a plan. More than one. We need to contemplate the various trouble scenarios in which we might find ourselves, and then the solutions for survival. Think of the major categories first, and then subsets of each. Start with the essentials of survival and then plan accordingly.

YOUR PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

A plan is nothing without action. We must set forth and implement the plan. It’s one thing to think about it, plan it, or know it – but it’s practically worthless unless we do it. Real skill is achieved by doing. Practice. Make time. If you have to open your wallet, do it. But don’t go in debt. Once you are “in motion”, it’s easier to stay in motion. Keep on doing.

YOUR STAYING OUT OF HARMS WAY

Some people look for trouble. Others do their best to stay away from it. If you understand your risks, then mitigate them. Avoid them. Don’t willingly enter a danger zone (literally or metaphorically) and not expect to be affected. Unless your job (by definition) sends you into harms way… use your noggin and avoid it.

YOUR STAYING AT LEAST A STEP AHEAD

The more you understand risks and behavior, the better you can be at staying one step ahead of the crowd. You can position yourself such that you won’t be caught up in the stampede of the masses. Recognizing dangers will give you the choice to stay ahead of them.