The Life or Death Difference Between Reacting and Responding
3 min readBy Brian Brawdy
Here is a short exercise that will not only help you create the B.E.S.T. chances for survival, it is a great starting point for any emergency or survival situation. The practiced repetition of this technique can very well save your life.
B…Breathe in through your nose one, deep, full-lung breath.
Often times a panic situation can leave you immobile. Taking an initial action, even one as simple as inhaling helps to reverse the freezing process. You are either “gripped” by the emergency or you are in charge. It all begins with breathing.
E…Exhale through your nose while whispering your name.
Staying centered and “in the moment” is imperative in any survival situation. If you have the presence of mind to state your name, you have the presence of mind to address the situation at hand. Also, a full cycle of inhale/exhale starts to slow the chemical rush you are experiencing.
S…Scan your immediate horizon to combat tunnel vision.
Every situation is different. By scanning your immediate surroundings you not only combat the tunnel vision common in emergency situations, you begin to look for a way to handle the emergency; a way to implement your survival plan.
T…Take specific and focused action.
Once you have focused your breath and your eyes you can begin to focus your response to the crisis at hand. Have confidence in yourself, your plan and your innate, human ability to survive almost anything.
By practicing the B.E.S.T. Chances for Survival Technique, you can begin to develop a strategy to take the “all of a sudden” out of “all of the sudden.” Doing so is the first step to surviving!
-Brian Brawdy
For more information and preparedness tips please visit me at www.BrianBrawdy.com