119: Prepping Basics with George Taylor

Are you interested in preparedness but unsure where to start? In this article and episode, we'll go over the prepping basics that are essential.

It's easy to get overwhelmed if you start out planning for epic long-term disasters reminiscent of the Mad Max movies, but the reality is, it doesn't need to be like that.

The Prepping Definition

Let's start with a prepping definition from the Oxford dictionary:

The practice of making active preparations for a possible catastrophic disaster or emergency, typically by stockpiling food, ammunition, and other supplies.

While the Oxford dictionary gives you the general idea, the true definition of prepping isn't that extreme.

What are the Prepping Basics

It's a mindset of thinking ahead and trying to avoid catastrophes or emergencies in the first place, and also being ready for events that only affect you personally: your car breaks down, and you have to walk home, your spouse loses their job, or you have to provide first aid for a family member.

While less dramatic than Oxford's definition, all of these events will be easier to handle if you are prepared.

You are far more likely to use practical prepping items like a filter for drinking water or a small food supply than a gas mask and a full-body biohazard suit.

The M4S Prepping Basics

There are more details in this article, but let's take a quick peek at the basics of preparedness.

The basics of prepping covers five fundamental areas.

Those areas are Mindset, Situational Awareness, Survival, Safety, and Self.

An excellent way to remember the Mind4Survival fundamentals of preparedness is by remembering M4S.

Mindset

Mindset is the first and most important aspect of practical prepping.

It's our mindset that establishes the foundation of our preparedness.

Mindset determines how you approach your life. I say "life" because our mindset is the attitude we use to navigate life, and life includes our preparedness.

Mindset sets your motivation level for preparing. Mindset sets the tenor and tone of whether people prep or not and how they go about it.

And, it's our mindset which determines how we face adversity when disaster strikes.

Situational Awareness

So, what is situational awareness?

Situational awareness is your next most important prep. It's the prepping basic that determines whether you notice what's happening around you.

Your situational awareness also determines how you perceive what's happening around you.

The Survival Pyramid

Situational awareness is the first rung in the survival pyramid.

Less than .3 seconds without situational awareness can cost you.

Take your eyes or mind off the road while driving and see what happens? Stop paying attention for a third of a second as a worst-case scenario approaches, and you may not see it in time to avoid it.

Stay alert! Stay alive!

Perception

Your perception of what is happening around you is based on how you interpret the reality of a situation.

Do you unconsciously bend reality based upon personal bias, cultural perspective, and past experiences?

The bottom line is that your chances of survival increase as you become more aware of what is truly happening around you.

So, get out there and practice some situational awareness!

Survival

Now that you know what's going on around you, it's time to focus on the act of surviving.

Other than your values, there isn't much that matters more than your survival.

The fact is, since we're born, we're all on the countdown to exiting this life.

However, delaying that as long as possible is a really go...