The Psychology of Preparedness, Part 2: Cultivating the Mindset of a Prepared Citizen
Jan 23rd, 2012 | By Ben W | Category: Education, Prepping, Top Headline | Print This Article
It doesn’t take a major weather event or a terrorist attack to prove the good sense of being prepared. But what does it take to activate and cultivate the way of thinking that puts you in a good place, prepared for anything?
Many of the readers who frequent my posts know something of my background, but many do not realize that for the last seven years, my corporate position has been as an executive of a firm dedicated to risk management for companies operating in war-torn countries and dangerous areas of the world. My background and job, as well as my military and law enforcement connections and contacts, my team of consultants, and my track record have left me in a unique position to evaluate risk in many different scenarios. My passion however, is the psychology of the process: how thoughts provoke action, how those actions provoke other thoughts and actions, and the tendency for repeat actions to be taken based on the historicity of a specific situation. Furthermore, the psychology of the preparation from a passive perspective as opposed to the psychology of the action from an active perspective fascinates me.
This isn’t a white paper on the psychology of preparedness, but it is certainly a primer on the ideas that grease the gears of such a concept. Without the underlying thought process, it is difficult to properly undertake a preparation protocol. But what is it that makes up the psychology of being prepared?
In the first article we talked about risks facing the citizens of the U.S., but the risks listed certainly provide a basis upon which a citizen of another country could build a substantial idea of the risks that face them as well. Risk is an important part to the psychology of preparedness.
When attempting to prepare for the most comprehensive plan, the psychology of being prepared is about being open minded and understanding risk. Knowing what situational awareness is and how to use it to assess changing risks is also important as you implement an action plan based on the thoughts (psychology) of the situation.
The basis for the psychology of preparedness also includes knowing where you stand in addition to which risks you face.
Having a good set of resources, an open mind, defined risks, and (most importantly) defined reactions to those risks will be the key to formulating a fully responsible and usable preparedness platform.
People need to understand that they are not alone. You aren’t the only one reading this article, even if no one has commented on the subject. When you can finally rationalize that you have these feelings of fear or uncertainty, you can begin to best use the psychology of preparedness that is forming in your mind. We are inundated as a nation with bad news daily, and it can be debilitating when it is taken too seriously or not seriously enough. You must look for the middle ground and seek out the truth of the matter as it relates to you. Tensions along the Gaza strip may not directly affect you, but a military conflict directly with Iran may. You must understand what the potential parameters of a given situation are so you can know how best to prepare.
You must also know yourself and your core beliefs, and don’t be afraid to write them down to evaluate them in the planning process. These fundamental values can offer a great insight into the process of deciding what happens next, which eventually leads to action or inaction.
How can you control yourself in stressful situations? What will you need to be comfortable, happy, and strong for yourself and others? Which items provide a valuable service for you that you may be unable to find or access during a bad situation? What foods will provide comfort and sustenance in a time of need? What will you need to be completely efficient and effective if placed into a more primitive or less technological situation?
Who can you call upon for help? What will you need to ensure they are comfortable and safe? What are you willing to do to protect yourself, your family, and the resources you have prepared and stored?
Knowing your limitations and having specific goals and parameters will serve you well when you must rely on muscle memory and habitual repetition to survive. Knowing what you will and won’t do and what you can and can’t do will allow you to build an ideal preparedness model.
Do You Have the Basics Met?
Make sure that at all times you understand how you will provide for your family during ANY time of stress, whether it is a localized event (like an extended sickness or job loss) or whether it is a macro event (like an invasion by a foreign power or an EMP attack). Only you know which risks you face in reality; only you can determine to what level it is prudent to prepare. In the event of an EMP, you will still be able to cook food on a BBQ and drink water from a water filter, regardless of if you can watch TV to determine the state of the Union. Prepare by knowing your risks and addressing your own personal concerns about them because preparation is intensely personal. I don’t expect many of the readers reading this to have the same gear or resources I have in place in case of a major event, because my available gear, thought process, fears, location, and risks are different than any of the readers.
Do you have food, water, and shelter? What about fuel for cooking and sanitation products/resources? Do you have the capability to think clearly and enact your plan and checklists? How about family support and good communication? Can you protect yourself from imminent threats?
The above variables are constant and should never be overlooked.
When you are looking for the catalysts of preparation, you need not look further than the risks you face, your core beliefs, your view of your risk exposure, and the basic unchanging variables. A combination of these items will serve you well in planning for anything. The only thing you will then have to implement in a prolonged or changing scenario is active situational awareness, which will help you to modify your actions and reactions to best suit your needs.
Thought-provoking information can either enable you or disable you: the psychology of preparedness is about being enabled now and in the future.
©2013 Off The Grid News
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Fascinating topic. I have been paralyzed with fear for the past two years regarding the state of the world and the many horrific possibilities that await us. When I first started educating myself the sheer volume of information overwhelmed me to the point that I just plain shut down; I couldn’t take anymore. It is only now that I am beginning to think rationally and to make a sane and more committed plan. Even still, however, I continue to be plauged with doubt over my decisions. Given the limited funds that I (and probably most people reading this comment) have it’s difficult to commit with certainty to, say, the huge expense of storing water and in home filtration systems whe there’s an equally real possibility that we may have to bug out permanently in case of a toxic disaster. I will then have wasted my family’s hard-earned cash on something that will never benefit us. The guilt that awaits me if I don’t prepare well can be just as debilitating as the fear that kept me from preparing in the first place.
Kathy,
Do you have a fire insurance policy?
Did you have a fire last year?
If not, do you consider the insurance premium to be wasted??
Preparedness is like your insurance; you never have as much as you would like, and hope you never have to use it, but every bit helps, and if you do have to use it you will be thankful that it was there.
You have to approach the task the same way you eat an elephant – one bite at a time.
Al
Hi Kathy,
Your response sounds exactly like my reaction when I realized that America was different, we were facing dangers from around the world and from within. It was if I awoke from a fog to see danger everywhere and had no idea what/how to begin to prepare. One of the first things to do is make a list, it should include all catagories necessary to survive (food,water,shelter,medical,sanitation both personal and cleaning,security etc..). Once you have a list of catagories, then list the items for each catagory necessary to substain your family during any emergency situation. After breaking your list down decide which items should be purchased first (food, water, shelter). Canned foods are a great place to start (soups,vegs., meats,fruit,etc). Everyone must start from the position they are in, if money is tight begin by buying an extra can of ???. As your supplies begin to grow your anxiety will be exchanged with confidence. On holidays ask for items that fit your desire to be prepared (water purifier, canning supplies, dehydrater,fruit trees, gardening supplies,etc.). Entertainment, communication, the list will grow as you become more prepared. Not everyone is interested nor believes in becoming prepared, so conversations about your plans should be carefully considered.
I agree with everything Kathy above has said. It is so hard to know what to do. We have ULTRA limited funds and fairly limited space for storage in our small house. I live near a forest and a river, which could be useful, but what if we have to LEAVE the area due to some event? Then like Kathy said, all of our hard work at preparation gets us nowhere. I live in a major city and not on a farm. It is currently unrealistic to contemplate moving to a rural zone. Honestly, I revisit this subject almost monthly and other than having some extra food and water on hand, I cannot say that I’m prepared for every eventuality, though I for sure would like to be. If any of you savvy preparedness people make a comment, can you please suggest as to how to start going about such a large task on a limited budget/space?
See my comment below. We watch sales for canned goods, dry beans, peas, etc. It is amazing what you can store under a bed. Look at what is in the closet and see if it is all needed, and if additional shelves could be installed. Think small to do the big things. Play communist/ progressive and do it their way, a little at a time until the entire elephant has been eaten. Fear is your greatest enemy. Think positive “I’ll win Damn it, you can not beat me”.
I basically did my prep in 3 stages. In actuality I stocked long term items then short then medium, because I started years ago. However, due to the times, I would now recommend the following approach. First make a list of what are needs (not greeds). What MUST you have versus what would be nice to have. Stick to your list. Always remember NEEDS not GREEDS. Just buy what you can as your budget allows, but buy wisely.
(1) Water — Determine what you need in your situation. We all need information on how to collect water from various sources and how to make it drinkable. I’d personally like to hear from others about what they use for water filters, etc.
(2) Short term — Concentrate on watching sales and stocking up on items for a shelf life of 1-2 years. I only buy during sales for these items or at Sams, etc. This includes canned soups, vegetables, fruits. My local grocery store had 38 cent cans of tomatoes and beans, so I loaded up on enough stuff to make a ton of chili!!! I suggest you have at least 3 months worth of stuff. Food prices will continue to go up, so whatever you can afford to get now will save you a lot more in the near future. It’s better to put your money into things you will be needing than to put it in a bank.
I also try to keep enough items on hand that do NOT need cooking to cover my number of people for at least a week. This would include granola bars and cereal, tuna, instant milk, soups (not too yummy cold, but would keep you alive?). My reasoning on this is that when a problem occurs, you may not be able to cook for a while and may need to use your time getting organized and helping people to start with.
Watch for sales on toilet paper. I actually find Sams to be the best place to get this though if you have one nearby. Be sure to have 1st aid stuff and hygiene stuff like soaps, etc.
(3) Long term — My major preparedness actually started back in the 1970s with and is based upon Ezekiel Bread. You can find the recipe at http://www.aaoobfoods.com/EzekielBreadMix.htm and various other places with different twists, but the one I have used since the 70s is the same as at aaoobfoods. This is the cheapest way to have a very basic survival food source. I recently bought 50# bags of organic wheat at a nearby elevator for $14.60. Last year it was only $12.50, if I remember correctly. Anyway, this is a very heavy batter bread and very filling and a nearly perfect food. You can add variety by adding applesauce or blueberries, etc. into it, but I prefer just adding fruit on top when I want a change. These grains and beans, if stored correctly, will keep for many years. The most expensive part of it is the olive oil and honey. I also included #10 cans of dried eggs and milk in this stage. You can get all this stuff at WaltonFeed.com. I’ve gotten stuff from them for years. If you have friends or family that also want to stock up, I suggest you go together and buy in bulk together and make the shipping cheaper for all of you. For example, you could buy a 5-6 gallon bucket and split it between you.
(4) Mid term — Then I concentrated upon shelf life items of up to 15 years, such as dehydrated and freeze dried veges, fruits, etc. These items fill in for more variety. I have stuff to make soups, etc.
I hope this is helpful. I’m no expert, but I have been doing this for years and this is a very brief rundown of what I’ve done.
Best of luck and God bless…
—=== KIC ===—
The money we spent on extra food, outdoor clothing, medical supplies, ETC was spent a little at a time. We realized we were in trouble when Obummer was elected. The food supply can, and is rotated to prevent loss. Garage sales supplied work clothes and boots, as well as all kinds of emergency tools. Buy the replacement filters for the best water filters and use 5-6 Gal buckets to make your own filter system. I would not spend money on a whole house filter system when the city water system may not work. Guns are almost no longer available at garage sales, so make friends at pawn shops and gun stores to be alerted to good used guns. I still have the Volcano stove and generator we bought for Y2K. Neither was a waste, and the cost spread over 12 years is quite small. We did away with our above ground swimming pool, a large rose bed, and a long narrow flower bed to make gardens. We now are eating and freezing Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, beets, and cabbage.A little money with sweat goes a long way.
Good advice. Congratulations on your progress. For me, I am keeping my above ground pool. 11k gallons of water may be needed for my garden. I am converting some more of my front yard to a garden.
We had a gopher dig under our pool, and a portion of the dirt support gave way. The liner was 11 years old and had to be replaced to fill in the sunken floor. The pool was our source of water as you plan, but with our grandchildren gone we seldom used the pool and have access to a small stream so we decided the food was a better option. We are in the process of purchasing 2ea 300 Gal food grade water containers, and I will soon build rain water collectors on to our downspouts. We have some extra food and can trade for water from our neighbors 25-30,000 Gal pool.
State of mind is indeed critical. I have been making preparations for years although I find it a difficult subject to broach with neighbors. Your neighborhood can be a good source of support or a threat. This is the toughest issue for me. I well know that those neighbors with their heads in the sand, would be the first ones knocking at my door for help and I will have a tough time turning them away, but I will have no choice. As for dealing with the “anxiety,” you might consider http://www.help4myanxiety.com.
I am authoring a book currently that will read as a bible for preparedness. If you know my credentials or read my articles (like this one), hopefully you can see that I know a thing or two about the subject. Feel free to email me to be put on the email list for my book, which should be out within 3 months, which will detail an incredible amount of information about this exact topic. I do not usually self promote, but there seems to be a lot of people looking for this specific information in need of a single authoritative source. My email is worthen.ben (@) gmail .com
Often times the breadth of knowledge is hard to convey in pieces as short as this one. Offthegridnews.com is an incredible source for this type of information, but you have to take the time to gather the information. You can easily find non proprietary information within this site, as well as some proprietary knowledge of preparation on a whole. It is one of the best sites on the web for these types of information, and because of that, I write for them.
KATHY, Many people I worked with (when the ipads) first came out, said I love one of those, and I said no, I’d rather hold a book. If, you can stay at your home, there is a wealth of information.
One thing to think about is if you have no power(to keep food in a freezer), no gas for a generator, no solar panals, the best thing would be is dehydrated food. I do that and have a food saver so everything is vacuumed packed. If, you have a closet you could take some of the sheet rock out and put shelves there for food. Think outside the box. Instead of getting so upset, stop watching the news for awhile, tell yourself YOUSELF YOU CAN! Then do what you can do. Everyone picks up alittle at a time.
Sorry Ben, the above was for Kathy. I do have a question though. Where do I need to go to learn to take apart a gun and replace parts?
What type/model of gun? And which parts specifically. Anyone can take apart a gun, it’s the putting it back together correctly that becomes a problem.
If you are relatively mechanically inclined you could use a schematic and be ok, but for guns that require fitting or which have heavy spring pressures or hydraulic press fit parts, it’s a different story.
I’m producing a website dedicated to basic gunsmithing and maintenance, and depending on the weapon I may have something you can have to help out. Short of something like that, you may be able to buy a book at your local bookstore dedicated to your gun, but even then, many of the no-no’s aren’t listed. There has yet to be produced a comprehensive manual for most guns (aside from the drop in guns like the AR-15 and 1911, etc.)
Kathy, My motto has become “Be prepared, not scared.” I put my energy into finding and stocking up on the basics of food, water and things I might need if there was no electricity. Knowledge is power and preparation replaces that feeling of fear. Just do a little at a time and in simple ways like buying an extra can of vegetables when you do your weekly shopping or know of some good sales on things. I also made sure to stock up on some of our favorite treats, because those things will be comforting in a stressful situation. Don’t forget about checking out thrift stores for emergency supplies too. No matter what you do to prepare, it will be better than nothing and will give you peace of mind. All the best to you and everyone out there that visits this site!
Kathy, along with the other advice on how to defeat your fear, I wanted to let you know that what you’re feeling is SO normal! Nobody likes change, and especially not change that is forced on them by someone or something beyond their control. That’s part of the “mind-game” that’s going on in our politics nowadays. The way to handle that is to remember that you’re doing what you can to be prepared, and give yourself a pat-on-the-back for every thing you accomplish. Any thing, every thing, it’s all a step toward survivability! And that’s the bottom line!
Hello good people this is for Kathy, I don’t know how I would be feeling but disappointed if I didn’t have my wife and son onboard with what I’ve been doing to be a prepper. Having your close friend or spouse or grown child understand why you are learning how to do more with less, and finding a way to direct energy away from people and places that don’t care about you, but only care about getting your money is a good thing, Kathy I say find community, that’s my advice, I also have a couple of friends who are also prepping and even going for a hike with them is prepping (I think it’s called exercise). Best to ya all.
Monty says
Jan. 25 2012.
Its nice to know that other off the grid people are takeing heed about preparedness. I for one have been in the prepared mood for years about 10 now and i learn to rotate the supplies that are about to go bad and make uses of them. There is nothing wasted and nothing is trashed. A little at a time is the key. Also the gas cans that get gas treatment for up to 1 year is used up and refilled as i can. Food storage with 25 years life is now more improtant then cans and beans or rice, but i still keep those going. Water filters is a must and seeds to plant is apart of that preparedness. I live next to a water way and a river, thats good. If i had to get out for some reason for a time no problem i have my grab and go bags. And when i get back home its all keep safe and hidden. So think about long term and how iam going to do it. A little at a time is the key and being on top off things. People that dont prepare are people that dont want to help others. Every one can do something with what they have. As long as one has enough for 1 mounth they might be in good shape,