rests squarely on your ability to be proactive and do something, anything, to
better your situation. Even if it’s only adding one bough to the roof of your
shelter, add it. Even if it’s making just one deadfall trap a day, make it.
Activity bars the mind from negative thoughts, staving off loneliness,
boredom, and depression. There will always be something new and helpful
you can do to improve your circumstances, and planning and completing
each task will help to break the monotony of your ordeal. Each successive
accomplishment will better your attitude.
Having said that, be careful not to go to the other extreme and try to take
on the whole world at once, which may be overwhelming. Take one step at a
time. There is surprising comfort in tucking into a little shelter at night with a
flame nearby, knowing your world to be only that which exists a few inches in
front of your face. Pull your coat over your head and face and know that for the
moment, that is your own small world. You control it and it is safe.
Guilt
Guilt is a common response in a survival situation, especially in the case of
an accident that has resulted in loss of life. As one of the survivors (or the
only survivor) of an accident, a person undoubtedly will be burdened with
guilt over being spared while others died. It is natural to feel this way.
But guilt, like most of the other emotions I describe in this chapter,
can be channeled for the betterment of your situation. Use it as motiva
tion to try harder. Perhaps you were spared for some greater purpose in
life. Live to carry on the work of those killed, or to tell their stories to their
loved ones.
Man Versus Nature
SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO CHARACTERIZE THE QUEST FOR SURVIVAL in a wilder
ness setting as a battle between man and nature. Others like to anthro
pomorphize nature as an omniscient and benevolent woman that will
look after them as long as you give her the proper respect. These are the
same people who say you should try to “become one” with nature. At best,
“becoming one” with nature is a bad cliché. At worst, it leads you into a
passive mindset, which can get you into real trouble.
Psychological Aspects of Survival (^) | 51