“Our greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our attitude.” Viktor Frankl

What is the difference between surviving and living? When you’re surviving, you live day by day. You fear being in danger, and, therefore, you try to avoid it. You minimize interactions with things, places, or persons who may have bad intentions towards you (at least you try). You approach each day as a way to stay alive. On the contrary, when you’re living, you’re focused on your goals. You see challenges as opportunities for growth. You focus on your purpose despite fear and the danger you face.

Why is having a survival mindset essential? Every day, we experience challenges. We may experience threats to our psychological, emotional, and physical well-being. We use our senses to analyze situations and to determine if taking a risk is worth it. Sometimes, our fight or flight responses are stimulated, forcing us to act accordingly. Having such a mindset can reduce or prevent the experience of threats.

Why is having a living mindset essential? Every day, we experience challenges. We may be placed in situations where our psychological, emotional, or physical well-being is threatened. During these times, we must find purpose. We must shift our mindset. When we are forced to let go of things that we love, we shift our focus towards other things that will fulfil us. This way, despite being in a survival mode mindset, you can find purpose in the chaos because you have chosen a living mindset (have purpose, no matter how small).

How should you approach adopting a mindset of survival and living? You can survive and live at the same time. These two can be linear. To cultivate a survival mindset, you must continually assess various situations. Know when you’re being lied to or manipulated. Do not disregard your feelings of survival (i.e., do not ignore threats disguised as pranks from strangers or persons you know with hidden bad intentions). In a surviving mindset, make time to live (view art, listen to music, write, read, or create). Doing things (no matter how small) is to live with purpose.

Love thyself,

Proteawell (Joanie)