Five ways to combat survival mode
By Nancy B. Loughlin
Published in News Press on July 5, 2016
You’re just trying to survive, and that’s no way to live.
You know when you are in survival mode. You fear losing your job. You fear for the physical health and safety of you and your family and your community. You fear the destruction of the planet.
Or perhaps you don’t know. Survival mode skews your filters so strangers, new ideas and change all become threats to be battled and destroyed – or to bomb, ban or blockade.
Fear is in our political discourse, our jobs and our homes. On the global, professional and personal levels, we become highly reactive instead of patient, reasonable and thoughtful. We are quick to assign blame to anyone rather than accept communal responsibility. We refuse to take chances on new, daring ideas.
We become incapable of listening because we wrongly equate our political beliefs and opinions with who we are, so we fight to the death to defend those beliefs. And, we isolate ourselves with likeminded individuals who will never encourage our personal growth or enhance our paths with new truths.
This fear is easily exploited by people who want our votes, our money and our time.
Survival Mode Survival Guide
- Unplug and go outside.
Being with nature does not mean sitting on a busy beach 15 feet from a parking lot. It means wandering off the path alone and connecting with yourself.
2. Spend time with people who enjoy interests different from yours.
Yes, there is Meetup.com, the neighbor passionately devoted to the tennis club and the family member addicted to Sudoku. But take the real challenge.
You know that person at work who drives you crazy with his opinions? Invite him out for coffee this way: “I was really curious about some of your views. Would you mind telling me why you believe what you believe? I just want to listen.”
And do that.
3. Do something that scares you.
Pack a bag to last you two days, get behind the wheel and drive. Follow the signs speaking to you. For once, break routines and be impulsive.
4. Meditate.
Fear, particularly when we fear for our very survival, is an unbalanced root chakra.
Simply sit, either directly on the floor or on a meditation pillow to cradle your hips. Hold a stone in your palm, close your eyes and breathe. Start with one minute, and gently escort intruding thoughts from your mind. Build your calm resolve, and add one minute to your practice every day.
5. Remember why you are here.
Our senses will yank us out of ourselves and out of our purposes if we are not vigilant. We all have a purpose. We are here to be teachers and students; we are part of the light, each of us a wave in the ocean.
Again, let’s all work on this before November 8th.
