Survival Mode:

When we are under stress, our ‘Fight or Flight’ response is activated. Our bodies and minds seek survival.

In ‘survival mode’ we naturally seek to fulfill the need for the basics in life … food, shelter, and clothing. When we are in this survival mode it is difficult to focus on anything other than fulfilling our basic needs. When we are focused on survival, it can be almost impossible to develop positive attitudes and beliefs and to focus on making positive changes in our lives.

Currently, there are many people who have lost their jobs or who are in fear of losing their jobs. Some people are employed, but are just one or two paychecks away from being homeless. If they lost their jobs today, how would they be able to support themselves and their families? This can cause an almost constant state of worry. Worrying serves one purpose – to alert you to the fact that you must take action for change. Once you take the action, you should stop worrying.

In our society, most of us have not learned to turn off the worry reaction or the fight or flight response. As a result, we are living in survival mode. Each of these states can cause great stress which may lead to illness and to an inability to think clearly or to be productive.

In order to make positive changes in our lives and to deal with unwanted changes that are ‘thrown at us’, we must learn to think clearly, to put aside our fears and worries and to focus on making our dreams a reality.

Yes, positive change is possible, even when we are in survival mode. We must first quiet our minds, understand that worrying can be counter-productive to change, and see the big picture. Once we are calm and thinking clearly, we can control and create changes in our lives that are positive and productive.

In my next blog I will be responding to a reader who e-mailed a question to me. If you have questions or if you would like to bring up a topic about change, you can e-mail me at the address noted in the sidebar under "Contact:".

Dr. Geri Krista