Survival Mode: 8 Signs You Are Stuck And What It Takes To Never Go Back
142: This post tells you exactly where you stand and what to do next.
An empty stomach is not a good political adviser. - Albert Einstein
The post we were holding back on for almost a year now. Survival mode. What it is. How to get out of it. What does it mean for you? And why you should care? Not only should you care about it. But you should put in maximum effort to ensure you are not stuck in it for the rest of your life.
Drawing parallels with history: Survival mode is not a new concept or something no one else has experienced before. A notable example of survival mode was medieval peasants who worked from sunrise to sundown on land that was not theirs. No time to think. No access to education. No ability to think long-term because they didn't have ownership of their lives. No time to think about anything. The entire system was designed to keep them exhausted. Unable to question anything or anyone. The environment changed. But the underlying system and its mechanisms are the same.
Survival mode and everything you need to know about it
Who will get the most out of this read: This read is for everyone. Yet those in their early to mid 20s will get the most out of it. At that stage of life, it becomes crystal clear what drains your energy and money. Plus who is trying to steal your focus from what matters. If you put in the real work… It gives everyone enough time and knowledge to understand the concept of survival mode and what it takes to escape from it. Does that mean if you are not in your 20s, it is not worth diving deeper into this? Not really. It is necessary. It may just be a bit harder. Given that you have been operating in survival mode for years without knowing it.
Keep in mind: This post is a 30+ minute read of both theoretical and practical advice you can implement in your life. Our suggestion is to make sure you are fully focused before reading this. This is the only way you will get the most out of this read.
What it is all about…
Survival mode: The reason it doesn't get enough attention is that it is not in anyone's best interest. What happens once you understand what survival mode is all about? Once you find yourself in a position where you have 100% power over the decisions you make? You turn into a dangerous individual. One who cannot be manipulated or forced to do things that are not in their best interest. One who thinks with their own head and doesn't fall for the manipulations around them. Having complete freedom in every decision you make, from your career to the place where you live, to having total ownership of your day. Being in a position to do what most people can’t.
What is the opposite scenario?
One where you are living in survival mode. You are unable to think long-term. Blinded by the noise, short-term obligations, and things you should not even worry about. Bills, living paycheck to paycheck, or wondering whether you will have enough money to cover the rent for the next month. Those are the common signs of someone living in survival mode. Once you stop worrying about those things and have everything automated to the point where it no longer causes you any stress… That is when you are doing something right and moving in the positive direction.
Signs you are in survival mode
Note: The person stuck in survival mode will be affected by at least half of the things we have mentioned. It is NEVER just one thing working against you. It is about multiple things working against you at the same time. The sad part? Most never notice it. If you are one of those lucky ones who have noticed 1-2 signs of them in your life, but you are set or do not feel negative effects. It may be pointing to something worth paying attention to before it turns into something bigger.
In no particular order.
1. Living paycheck to paycheck: The most obvious sign. Once you find yourself in a position where you have to watch what you are spending your money on and how. Or you have to slow down your spending because you will run out of money. It is one of the most obvious signs that you are dealing with survival mode and selling yourself short. This doesn’t mean you should be reckless with money and spend it on impressing people you should not be impressing. It means you should not even find yourself in a position where you waste time worrying about whether you will have enough until the next paycheck comes.
2. Inability to see things for what they are: Much harder to recognize than the previous point. When you are constantly overloaded and wondering whether you will have enough to pull it off until the end of the month. It becomes obvious that you have been programmed to see things only in the short term. You find yourself making decisions that support only instant results and gratification. Completely unable to see yourself starting a business, switching jobs, or building something for yourself. All because everything else you have to focus on is draining your energy first. This is about being unable to picture a better version of your life because survival mode has put limitations on what is possible. Optimizing everything for this moment instead of the future.