Embracing Preparedness: Prepping Part 4

Our culture has become overly complacent and reliant on current systems. We’re soft. We have grown accustomed to instant gratification and are rarely required to provide any sweat equity to meet our needs. The outliers, the preppers, those who seek to break free from these systems, are often looked upon negatively as being overly paranoid. In today’s political, economic, and cultural climate,  small doses of paranoia may be the correct prescription for making personal change while you watch others get left behind.  

Much of the negative response surrounding the world of prepping stems from too much focus being placed on extreme or unlikely events. This perception is often coupled with the stereotype of acquiring and stockpiling supplies. While tools and supplies are generally required to accomplish any job, they are missing the point. If done correctly, prepping happens organically through a process of intentional self-improvement. The most important preparations are physical and cognitive. This applies to every aspect of life. The goal of making any preparation should be to increase self-reliance and decrease reliance on the systems making us weak.

For many people, food is prepackaged, money is borrowed, pills replace exercise, and someone else’s knowledge fixes their problems. However inexcusable, there is never a shortage of excuses in a lazy society. Subtracting 16 hours for work and sleep, the remaining eight hours of a day are too often squandered. This time could serve to further your goals. This is the essence of prepping. Nearly everyone should be capable of taking care of themselves in everyday life or in case of an emergency, but these abilities need to be unlocked.

In the modern age, there is no shortage of access to knowledge. While formalized education may be limited for different reasons, no one is restricted from acquiring knowledge. There is limitless access to information on the internet, in books, and wisdom of others. It’s crucial to seek out the knowledge you desire. For nearly every normally functioning adult, if someone else was able to learn a skill or craft, you can too. Developing new skills often has positive effects in multiple areas of your life. There are many examples of transferable prepping skills:

• Budgeting your finances safeguards against financial waste increases financial readiness, and refines your resource allocation skills. By properly allocating resources, you may find additional time in your day or other areas of waste. You develop a system for identifying needs versus wants which is vital for effective emergency planning.
• Time management, another critical aspect of prepping, can assist in organizing your day and increasing productivity. Developing these skills allows you to prioritize tasks that align with your goals and eliminate those that do not. Discipline and time management will allow you to focus more effort on personal development and preparation in other areas.
• Developing better communication skills is useful in being able to convey your needs, plans, or instructions in an emergency and can also make a significant difference in everyday interactions. Good communications foster stronger relationships, making you a better parent, spouse, or friend. Learning how to negotiate, persuade, and lead is invaluable to gaining respect in social situations.  These abilities assist in forming relationships and networks for collaboration which are useful in and out of emergencies.
• Developing a strong sense of community can also enhance your preparedness. Building relationships with neighbors and local groups can provide mutual support and resources during crises. People are social creatures and desire a sense of belonging. A network of like-minded people fosters a sense of belonging and can create a community willing to share knowledge, skills, and resources, to create resilient communities.

The term ‘prepping’ gets a bad rap. If creating a formalized process toward safeguarding you and your family against hardship through preparation makes you a ‘prepper’, I suggest taking the title with pride. Prep for retirement. Prep for longevity. Prep to become more equipped to serve others. Prep for emergencies and perseverance no matter what. Invest in yourself and become resilient.  If you are not seeking to propel yourself forward, you are destined to fall behind and perpetuate a crybaby culture.

The purpose of this writing is to encourage everyone to break free of the current system of over-reliance on the government and provoke reflection on the sustainability of our cushy lifestyles. Over the years, our society has drifted from what made us the most capable country in the world. If we continue our complacency, other countries will surpass us. Our leaders, enable and promote an increase of reliance on the government while lacking the means to sustain us. This must be recognized. It is our responsibility to be self-sufficient and capable, and preparation is the first step. Take responsibility for yourself.