Urban Survival 101: How to Adopt a Survival Mindset

As much as specialized skills and helpful gear are important to helping you survive a catastrophe in an urban environment, the correct mindset is the real key that will mean the difference between life and death.

How to Adopt a Survival Mindset

An effective survival mindset strikes a delicate balance between a realistic knowledge of the danger of a situation, and the ability to choose to survive and remain hopeful in spite of bad odds. A common survival saying says that you can survive 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water, 3 minutes without oxygen, but only 3 seconds without hope. Sure, it’s oversimplified, but the point is that your will to survive will make or break you. In a life or death situation, losing the will to fight for survival will kill you faster than the elements.

Aspects of a Survival Mindset

  • Situational Awareness

    • An important aspect of a survival mindset is an awareness of the situation. Cultivate the habit of being aware of your surroundings: the entrances and exits, the people in the surrounding area and their behavior, and any immediate or potential threats. If there is a dangerous situation brewing, your awareness of it is key to your survival. You don’t want to be taken by surprise.

  • Rehearsal of Scenarios and Actions

    • Visualization is a tactic used successfully by pro athletes and elite Navy SEALS alike. Rehearse possible scenarios and visualize them from beginning to end. If you can see your successful completion of a survival task in your mind’s eye, you have a higher chance of actually completing it, even under stressful circumstances.

  • Psychological Preparedness

    • This involves being both aware of the gravity of a situation, and preparing yourself psychologically to survive. Make the conscious choice to be hopeful in spite of the fear you may feel. Decide that you will make it to the other side of the situation, and then simply do what’s necessary to get there.
A stockpile of food and water and cool gadgets is great, but if you let terror take over in an emergency, you might as well have nothing. When you have the right mindset, only then you can make use of cool survival gear to help you get where you’re going safely.