24 Oct, 2023 By Jesse
What is Mental Resilience?

Restoring – is a necessary part of everyone’s ready plan. That can mean more than simply restocking supplies and recovering after events. It might also involve restoring your mental wellbeing.

Mental health treatment is a “reactive” approach where mental resilience is a “proactive” approach to not just avoiding mental health issues but in living a much fuller and happier life! Mental resilience is about a person’s mindset, their current frame of reference for themselves and the world around them, involving self-efficacy, self-reliance, self-esteem, self-image, and stems from a growth mindset and positive psychology approach to life and living and not a victim mentality (which is the antithesis of the disease model).

I wanted to share this part of my reply with everyone, as THIS needs to be better understood.  Mental Resilience is NOT just about Mental Health!  Much like fitness provides a TON more benefits than just weight loss, mental resilience training simply provides better mental health as a beneficial side-effect, NOT as the main product!

Mental Resilience is not just about being able to deal with the stress of combat or survival.  It is not just about having better focus and attention spans.  It is not just about gaining more control over your thoughts and emotions.  

Mental Resilience is MAINLY about learning just how powerful and amazing the human mind really is and how gaining better control, focus, and understanding of that power will allow you to better handle life.  Things like ~ deal with stress, handle combat and combat fatigue, keep your head in a survival situation, control your emotions at work and with family or loved ones, and on and on.  

HOWEVER … much like people only think of either weight loss or strength when lifting, and not the other 100 benefits to mind, body, and life, Mental Resilience also provides much more than “damage control.”  

Mental Resilience Training allows you to ~ learn to enjoy the moments and the little things more, learn to stop judging you and others around you, provides a more open mind and understanding of you and the world around you, creates more critical and independent thinking, reduces biases and prejudices … it improves sleep, increases a sense of overall wellbeing, improves your sex life, improves your mental and physical health, reduces your risk to a multitude of chronic illnesses and diseases … it helps to make you a more compassionate mother, father, or spouse, it helps you to better “love thy neighbor,” it helps to create more empathy and understanding for others as it does the same for yourself.  

This list could go on and on about all the aspects of your life, as Mental Resilience Training is about learning how to turn off the auto-pilot that people live on (90-95% of your day is simply conditioned subconscious and unconscious automatic routines) and LEARNING how to unprogram and reprogram (thank you neuroplasticity) … HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE!  

As my business cards say … Mental Resilience Training is “Mental Remodeling” for the mind, body, and soul 🙂

Illegitimi non Carborundum!

5 Oct, 2023 By Jesse
Surviving the Great Outdoors: Essential Wilderness Survival Techniques

Having essential outdoor skills is paramount for anyone venturing into the wilderness. By understanding the basics of wilderness survival, including navigation, fire building, shelter construction, and foraging for food, individuals can increase their chances of staying safe and thriving in the great outdoors. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of essential outdoor skills for wilderness survival, offer guidance on navigation, fire building, shelter construction, and foraging for food, and provide tips for staying safe, avoiding hazards, and preparing for outdoor adventures.

  1. Overview of essential outdoor skills for wilderness survival:

Mastering essential outdoor skills is the foundation of wilderness survival. Consider the following skills:

  • Navigation: Learn how to read maps, use a compass, and navigate using natural landmarks. Understanding basic orienteering techniques will help you find your way and prevent getting lost in the wilderness.
  • Fire building: Master the art of building a fire using various techniques, such as the bow drill, flint and steel, or fire starters. Knowing how to source and prepare firewood, as well as the principles of fire safety, is crucial for warmth, cooking, and signaling for help.
  • Shelter construction: Learn how to construct different types of shelters using natural materials, such as debris huts, lean-tos, or tarp shelters. Understanding how to select a suitable location, build sturdy structures, and insulate them properly can provide protection from the elements.
  • Foraging for food: Familiarize yourself with edible plants, berries, nuts, and mushrooms found in your region. Learn how to identify them accurately and differentiate between safe and poisonous species. Supplement your foraging knowledge with basic hunting and fishing skills if necessary.
  1. Overview of essential outdoor skills for wilderness survival:

Mastering essential outdoor skills is the foundation of wilderness survival. Consider the following skills:

  • Navigation: Learn how to read maps, use a compass, and navigate using natural landmarks. Understanding basic orienteering techniques will help you find your way and prevent getting lost in the wilderness.
  • Fire building: Master the art of building a fire using various techniques, such as the bow drill, flint and steel, or fire starters. Knowing how to source and prepare firewood, as well as the principles of fire safety, is crucial for warmth, cooking, and signaling for help.
  • Shelter construction: Learn how to construct different types of shelters using natural materials, such as debris huts, lean-tos, or tarp shelters. Understanding how to select a suitable location, build sturdy structures, and insulate them properly can provide protection from the elements.
  • Foraging for food: Familiarize yourself with edible plants, berries, nuts, and mushrooms found in your region. Learn how to identify them accurately and differentiate between safe and poisonous species. Supplement your foraging knowledge with basic hunting and fishing skills if necessary.
  1. Tips for staying safe, avoiding hazards, and preparing for outdoor adventures:

Prioritizing safety and proper preparation is key to enjoying outdoor adventures. Consider the following tips:

  • Inform others of your plans: Share your trip details with someone reliable, including your intended route, expected duration, and emergency contact information. Check-in regularly to ensure your safety is monitored.
  • Carry essential gear: Pack appropriate clothing, footwear, and gear for the specific environment and weather conditions. Include emergency supplies such as a first aid kit, signaling devices, extra food and water, and a personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite messenger.
  • Learn wilderness first aid: Enroll in a wilderness first aid course to learn essential medical skills and how to respond to emergencies in remote locations. Be prepared to handle common injuries and medical situations in the outdoors.
  • Respect nature and wildlife: Practice Leave No Trace principles by minimizing your impact on the environment. Respect wildlife by observing from a safe distance and avoiding actions that could harm them or their habitat.

Surviving in the great outdoors requires essential wilderness survival skills, such as navigation, fire building, shelter construction, and foraging for food. By mastering these skills, staying safe, avoiding hazards, and preparing for outdoor adventures, individuals can enhance their wilderness survival capabilities and gain confidence in their ability to thrive in nature. Remember, continuous practice, education, and respect for nature are key to becoming a skilled outdoor enthusiast.