Let Go of Survival Mode

Survival Mode. Man, just thinking about it makes me tired. 

We’ve all had those times in our lives when we feel like we are just hanging on for dear life. Maybe it’s those months after having a baby or other life transition. Or maybe you are running around from one thing to next, barely catching a breath. 

I have spent years in Survival Mode. Everything from going back to school, having four active kids and running them to all their lessons and sports, to dealing with periods of having major anxiety and panic attacks and trying to work through difficulties in our marriage, had me feeling the frantic and desperate state of survival mode nearly constantly. 

So here’s the thing. When we believe that we are in Survival Mode, we think it is a fact. We think there are just so many things going on that of course you are just trying to hold on and survive.

But Survival Mode is just a thought, a particularly destructive thought. It becomes problematic because we actually create more chaos in our lives when we are thinking this thought of “I’m just in Survival Mode.” Let me show you what I mean. 

When I was struggling with regular panic attacks, I believed that I needed to live in survival mode. This thought created feelings of worthlessness and fear for me. When I’m feeling worthless and afraid, I hide. I don’t want to be around other people, I find any reason to back out of commitments, and I do the bare minimum in every aspect of my life. I don’t take very good care of myself.

So I decided to change my mind. I decided to believe that this is a moment of rest, a time to learn a new skill. And I love learning new things. So when I have this thought, I feel curious, hopeful that there is a solution, inquisitive. When I feel that way, I am open to new solutions and searching for them. I show up for myself and my family. 

Can you see the difference? “Survival Mode” becomes a self fulfilling prophesy.

Now, you know, I am all for giving yourself grace during a period of transitions. Even backing off on normal responsibilities for a while until you get used to the new normal. Absolutely. 

But that is coming from an entirely different thought and has a completely different feeling and that makes all the difference. 

Survival mode feels like being stuck in a place that I don’t want to be. Grace is empowering myself with the time and energy that I need to move forward from a solid place of strength with calm and gentle progress. 

If you are feeling stuck in survival mode, I can help. Let’s talk about it on a free coaching call. You can click the button below to set it all up. On the call, we can set up a plan for you to get to that place of calm and gentle progress full of love and grace for where you are in your life, and a path to get where you want to ultimately be.