Does anyone have any practical tips for someone who may not be an eternal optimist but wants to learn how to become a positive thinker so they can better prepare themselves for managing in a disaster situation?
The importance of positive thinking in a disaster
UK Richard
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I did not expect to live this long, but I have, and I'm 74.
As a Christian I have known the Lord for over 67 years.
Though I was raised in a Christian home No one pushed me into this decision, but the facts that were evident to me seeing the lives changed when given to the Lord honestly, while people that played religion saw nothing.
The Bible is true ,that If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away and all things become new.
When a person becomes serious with God, God becomes serious with them.
Jesus is God in the flesh come to bear the consequences of our rebellion and provide us with the Holy Sprit to teach us God's will, and provide an eternal home with Him in Heaven.
This life is a testing ground, a place in ones existence decisions are made to determine ones relationship to his creator.
God made all things with the ability to make a choice, While some resent this capacity, the quality of LOVE does not exist without it.
God is Love.
And free will, will not be over ridden. But there are real consequences to rebellion.
Sin is the absence of God's influence, His influence will not be forced on any one. a matter of fact it takes a great deal of deliberate attention to Him, to know his voice.
Experiencing God's intervention in my life often as I do, I am confident of His love for me and the things He has prepared for me in the future. I do not manipulate His hand but I endeavor to cooperate with Him. He knows my path both where I'm headed and where He has sent me, and provides my guidance on that path both to face danger and or to avoid it. Though I'm lead through storms, I am at peace. Live or die I'm afraid of nothing. And believe me I have faced fierce animals and men and did not need to raise my hand or voice, but trust God to see me through.
As a Christian I have known the Lord for over 67 years.
Though I was raised in a Christian home No one pushed me into this decision, but the facts that were evident to me seeing the lives changed when given to the Lord honestly, while people that played religion saw nothing.
The Bible is true ,that If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away and all things become new.
When a person becomes serious with God, God becomes serious with them.
Jesus is God in the flesh come to bear the consequences of our rebellion and provide us with the Holy Sprit to teach us God's will, and provide an eternal home with Him in Heaven.
This life is a testing ground, a place in ones existence decisions are made to determine ones relationship to his creator.
God made all things with the ability to make a choice, While some resent this capacity, the quality of LOVE does not exist without it.
God is Love.
And free will, will not be over ridden. But there are real consequences to rebellion.
Sin is the absence of God's influence, His influence will not be forced on any one. a matter of fact it takes a great deal of deliberate attention to Him, to know his voice.
Experiencing God's intervention in my life often as I do, I am confident of His love for me and the things He has prepared for me in the future. I do not manipulate His hand but I endeavor to cooperate with Him. He knows my path both where I'm headed and where He has sent me, and provides my guidance on that path both to face danger and or to avoid it. Though I'm lead through storms, I am at peace. Live or die I'm afraid of nothing. And believe me I have faced fierce animals and men and did not need to raise my hand or voice, but trust God to see me through.
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Had this typed up then faceplanted into the keyboard at 0400 w/o hitting 'Post Reply' .. 
Anyhoo..
Ergo: PCP, PTPIP ('Positivity Comes from Preparation and then Putting that Prep Into Practice'. Period. And - yah, it's a 'Mindset', but.. Most Importantly, it must become a 'Way of Life' - Doing, succeeding at 'fixing life', as it comes - Right Now. So... Let's get you started - Exercise #1:
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Welcome to SB, btw... Cheers..
.02
jd
Anyhoo..Yes. Prepare for [All manner of Disasters] and Put into Practice / Develop and Hone Skill-sets - Now - and In-So-Doing - you will Find the Confidence and 'Positivity' that you desire.
Ergo: PCP, PTPIP ('Positivity Comes from Preparation and then Putting that Prep Into Practice'. Period.
And - yah, it's a 'Mindset', but.. Most Importantly, it must become a 'Way of Life' - Doing, succeeding at 'fixing life', as it comes - Right Now. So... Let's get you started - Exercise #1:
Welcome to SB, btw... Cheers..
.02
jd
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OP I checked out your website, very interesting. Either now or later please tell us how you see the differences in threats and preparation between UK and US. We spent a week in London this July and I see you WILL be out-populated by mid Easterners and north Africans in the future. Do you see that as a threat to your culture? BTW you seem to have a good understanding of our language. LOL.
I have a positive outlook, but it is because I have the confidence in my abilities, skill, and knowledge. I certainly don't know everything, but I know enough that I can adapt to most situations.
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The single best way to improve mindset is through experience. The second is to build skills.
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Just keep thinking " I'm not dead yet".
Unlike like poor sap you just stepped over.
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After the last four years I would say the importance of thinking period. After the mass brain washing and all the Branch Covidians just thinking is a major advantage.
I never realized so many seals lived on this planet. People are still taking the boosters and still getting covid. It's funny if my dog got 8 rabies shots and got rabies every year I would ask question but not the Branch Covidians. Their religion trumps all.
I never realized so many seals lived on this planet. People are still taking the boosters and still getting covid. It's funny if my dog got 8 rabies shots and got rabies every year I would ask question but not the Branch Covidians. Their religion trumps all.
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4,278 Posts
Something to do, something to look forward to and someone or something to love.
Stay engaged and move forward. Do what you can where you are with what you have..
Trite perhaps but having a mantra to repeat sometimes helps when you are in the mud, blood and fear.
Stay engaged and move forward. Do what you can where you are with what you have..
Trite perhaps but having a mantra to repeat sometimes helps when you are in the mud, blood and fear.
Engage your brain before you put your mouth in gear. Finally whatever the task at hand, look for more than one way of completing said task (time permitting)
That used to be good enough.
Now when I step around the bodies (its bad form to step over them, you never know who is watching).....I wonder what they know....that I don't?
Sorry, I guess it's Christmas eve for most of you. I'm just so far from positive thinking I couldn't see it with a telescope.
I need a disaster I guess.
A person prone to fits of anger cannot think strait. =fact
Been in many stressful situations and guard my self from rash thinking, having observed many folk that loose it easily. They tend to make more blunders compounding the event.
There is big difference in a parent/child relationship when there is no count down, in other words do what your told NOW, not allowed to play ignorant. there is no second chance. If this discipline is from the beginning things go much easier but those that can't discipline have nothing but trouble because the kid is finding their limits how far they can push you. ( this is when the yelling starts) The better this is practiced the child learns to pay attention early is far better than the alternative. Unfortunately starting this discipline after the lesser is established is quite confusing to the child.
Problem is the parent gets angry and looses it in the mean time. Stronger consequences are likely to fallow.
Kids need to understand that they are your children not your friends. Till respect is earned, then there is friendship.
If your children cannot respect you due to the lack of your own discipline, you have what we see in society today as with many generations =rebellion.
The importance of discipline is the establishment of character that is respectable. Knowledgeable and experience enough to face a problem and humble enough to ask for help, sharp enough to deal with a con and patient enough to deal with those of lesser experience.
If one's character is honest, predictable, and respectable, not emotional, they can be more at peace dealing with conflict or facing a disaster.
How you deal with a flat tire on the freeway. hurling expletives, casting blame, driving angrily. OR simply and comely moving to the side of the road out of the way of others? The world does not revolve around you.
If you were responsible and left for the trip with plenty of time, should such an event occur, there is no need to get upset. If you have been responsible and maintained the spare tire and jack, simply dawn the overalls and gloves, and get to work. It takes as long as it takes time is not an issue unless some ones life is in desperate jeopardy and even at that ones care and discipline still need to be managed, other wise things can go wrong compounding the event.
Knowing what your doing may take some practice so that in a real event others see that you've got it in hand. but with out practice (ignorant) others may try to help and merely frustrate the situation.
I was fortunate to have many jobs that taught me several different skills which made a big difference for each consecutive job, thus I have confidence in many areas of life others rarely get. I don't know it all, but I'm anxious to learn.
Been in many stressful situations and guard my self from rash thinking, having observed many folk that loose it easily. They tend to make more blunders compounding the event.
There is big difference in a parent/child relationship when there is no count down, in other words do what your told NOW, not allowed to play ignorant. there is no second chance. If this discipline is from the beginning things go much easier but those that can't discipline have nothing but trouble because the kid is finding their limits how far they can push you. ( this is when the yelling starts) The better this is practiced the child learns to pay attention early is far better than the alternative. Unfortunately starting this discipline after the lesser is established is quite confusing to the child.
Problem is the parent gets angry and looses it in the mean time. Stronger consequences are likely to fallow.
Kids need to understand that they are your children not your friends. Till respect is earned, then there is friendship.
If your children cannot respect you due to the lack of your own discipline, you have what we see in society today as with many generations =rebellion.
The importance of discipline is the establishment of character that is respectable. Knowledgeable and experience enough to face a problem and humble enough to ask for help, sharp enough to deal with a con and patient enough to deal with those of lesser experience.
If one's character is honest, predictable, and respectable, not emotional, they can be more at peace dealing with conflict or facing a disaster.
How you deal with a flat tire on the freeway. hurling expletives, casting blame, driving angrily. OR simply and comely moving to the side of the road out of the way of others? The world does not revolve around you.
If you were responsible and left for the trip with plenty of time, should such an event occur, there is no need to get upset. If you have been responsible and maintained the spare tire and jack, simply dawn the overalls and gloves, and get to work. It takes as long as it takes time is not an issue unless some ones life is in desperate jeopardy and even at that ones care and discipline still need to be managed, other wise things can go wrong compounding the event.
Knowing what your doing may take some practice so that in a real event others see that you've got it in hand. but with out practice (ignorant) others may try to help and merely frustrate the situation.
I was fortunate to have many jobs that taught me several different skills which made a big difference for each consecutive job, thus I have confidence in many areas of life others rarely get. I don't know it all, but I'm anxious to learn.
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There's a difference between ignoring reality and being unwilling to face the current or upcoming hardships. Mike Rowe is a great example of a person who live this, it may not be fun but he goes out and gets results anyway.
The current situation may be horrible, but it could be worse. Your job is not to think everything is sunshine and rainbows, but rather to take the current situation and move it in a positive direction. Towards whatever the goal may be. You don't have to be optimistic about it, but you do have an obligation to go out and do the next right thing. Without that a whole lot of systems big and small start to breakdown and very quickly. Society is never more than 9 meals away from complete anarchy. Personally I believe that to be true.
The current situation may be horrible, but it could be worse. Your job is not to think everything is sunshine and rainbows, but rather to take the current situation and move it in a positive direction. Towards whatever the goal may be. You don't have to be optimistic about it, but you do have an obligation to go out and do the next right thing. Without that a whole lot of systems big and small start to breakdown and very quickly. Society is never more than 9 meals away from complete anarchy. Personally I believe that to be true.
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Positive thinking? I look at it more as the job needs doing. Positive thoughts come naturally, with or without a disaster
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I feel a good question is how do you remain positive and not buy into the fear that will be spread by people wanting to look like they are in the know. In every disaster there will be lies and conspiracy theories being spread. When you are stressed, how will you keep a head in your shoulders and not fall for this? These lying people will sound very convincing, probably because some of them will actually believe their own lies, but also when they are called out on their lies, they will have to double or triple down on them or they lose face. How will you keep a clear enough head to not fall for the truckloads of bs that will come from a disaster?
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I'm the eternal optimist. It's really easy being negative and looking at the bad aspects of life or any situation; it's hard to seek out the positives. Faith does matter (and has been a big comfort for me), but I have a career where planning and execution in the military rarely goes as planned. What you prepare for are contingencies and backup plans. Developing the view that crap will happen but there are other solutions, other decisions to be made. Every bad situation or crisis is chock full of positives...if you look for them.
I laugh at my wife's daily challenge when we're driving of looking for a yellow car. Seeing one is a positive sign and the only reason you don't see them is because you're not looking for them.
Monday is my favorite day of the week. I look forward to it and people now joke about how great Monday is or that Friday is here, and we get two weekend days to prepare for a great Monday
During a crisis or seriously stressful situation, you simply have to condition your mind to assess what is still functional, operational, and useful. I don't have time to complain about what's wrong, screwed up, broken, or bad. That just delays doing what still must be done.
ROCK6
I laugh at my wife's daily challenge when we're driving of looking for a yellow car. Seeing one is a positive sign and the only reason you don't see them is because you're not looking for them.
Monday is my favorite day of the week. I look forward to it and people now joke about how great Monday is or that Friday is here, and we get two weekend days to prepare for a great Monday
During a crisis or seriously stressful situation, you simply have to condition your mind to assess what is still functional, operational, and useful. I don't have time to complain about what's wrong, screwed up, broken, or bad. That just delays doing what still must be done.
ROCK6
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4,278 Posts
right now is a good time to practice....read the current posting of some channels like canadien prepper or southernprepper1 then look at some from a year ago..
It always seems to be doom and gloom. I skim a few sites and then get on with my day. If you have a group have your less physically able person keep a close watch on the world and let you know when things get serious..
Also being self reliant means you hunker down and don't have to go shopping at walmart on the day the grid goes down..
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Now that is good advice! Ask around for advice from those you trust, without being too obvious. I completely agree with the ideas like reading & looking, listening & asking questions. Remember: You will never be too smart, too resourceful, or too prepared to care for yourself & your loved ones. Be well!
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Well said! Having retired from fixing robots, working as a medic & a bomb tech, and now working as a wildlife rehabilitator, you'd think that after delivering babies without a hospital, teaching a blind raccoon to find food, using melted TNT for starting a cooking fire, or teaching a robot to come to a dog whistle, I'd be ready for anything. Definitely not true! The most destructive, unpredictable, most dangerous to life & limb is People! Keep your head on a swivel, your mind calm & your hands busy. This world is chock-full of good people who will do anything for you & a few who need careful monitoring...
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Someone good at managing disaster situations is not necessarily a positive thinker, but rather a balanced thinker. This is where stoicism is an asset.
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