How to Save Yourself
Imagine you wake up and you’re alone, in a small rowboat in the middle of the ocean – no land in sight, nothing familiar. You feel hungry, tired, sunburnt, and…. scared. What do you do? Give up and wait to die? I hope you said “No”. But what DO you do? My advice would be to start rowing – or try these 10 life saving tips!
1. Identify your goal
In this case I’m guessing it might be “LAND”! Think about what it looks like and smells like. What’s it like to touch? Imagine what it will be like when you get there, what you’ll say, who you’ll see, what you’ll do. Picture as much detail as you can. Then imagine what it will feel like emotionally – that sense of relief, the happiness, the excitement to see others, to know that you’re alive! When you imagine what your goal feels like, you’re tying your emotions to it, and emotion is the thing that will drive you to take action and to succeed.
2. Listen to your gut
When you’re not sure which direction to take, it’s time to follow your instincts – not those negative voices of gloom and doom. Often logic and reason can lead to successful outcomes, but sometimes you need to tune into your intuition, and go with the decision that makes you feel excited and powerful. That’s the path that will fill you with hope and motivation, the one that you know in your heart is right for you.
3. Take the first step
In this case pick up those oars, point yourself towards home, and row. Just one little row, then take a breather, then another row, then a breather. Take it easy but steady. With each little step you’ll build momentum, both physically and mentally. You’ll get faster and stronger as you realise you can in fact reach your goal. Each little step takes you closer to safety and home.
4. Use your strengths
You got through life so far by using your many unique talents, skills and abilities. Use them now! If you’ve cared for your body, you can use your physical health to move forward. If you’re a clever person, you can use your intellect to navigate the tide and refine your stroke to be more effective. If you’re creative, maybe you can design a better oar. Use whatever your strengths are to move you forward.
5. Feed your emotions
Emotion is a powerful source of strength. But you need to ensure that emotions are working FOR you, not against you. Line up all the good ones, focus on them and encourage them to push you on. Emotions like hope, adventure, love, pride, faith, peace, gratitude, wonder, joy, contentment, curiosity….. whatever makes you stronger. The more you concentrate on these emotions, the bigger they’ll get. If your head is full of positive emotions, there is no room for negativity and fear.
6. Behave like you’ve succeeded
Like Dr Phil says, “You choose the behaviour, you choose the consequences.” In our rowboat, if you choose to play dead, you’ll die! Why not behave like a master seaman, an action hero on an adventure, the Captain of the Starship Enterprise, a gold medallist training for the Olympics! You’ve got a far greater chance of making it to safety if you pretend, you’re a winner. Yes – fake it until you make it!
7. Remember there’s a world out there
Think about how you’re going to re-join it. You’re going to return to that big crazy world again and be a part of society. That feeling you’ve had of insignificance will be replaced with a sense of belonging when you realise you’re going to be a valuable member of a community again. You’re going to find your tribe, the people you belong with! You won’t be alone.
8. Know that external support exists
Remember there are people looking out for you – trying to get help to you. Maybe family and friends, or maybe support services who are skilled at helping people who are lost. Think about who you can turn to when you need help. Reach out. It’s not a weakness to ask for help, it’s actually a strength. By accepting help from others, we show that we trust them and this can greatly improve our relationships. People want to help you, some because they love you, some because it’s their job, and for some it boosts their own self-esteem to be doing something good for others. For whatever reason, know that you just need to ask (In a rowboat that’s not so easy… but work with me on this one).
9. Fill the void
Keep yourself occupied as you move towards your goal. Use your imagination, play games, create things – keep busy. In fact, you should keep SO busy that there’s no time to worry about things. Of course, the void needs to be filled with things that you enjoy, or you know are productive. If you think about it, there are so many things you’ve wanted to do or try in life, now’s the time! If you can’t realistically do them right now, start planning when you’ll do them.
10. Grow into your body
Yes that’s right – you need to get physically bigger!
Sit up straight (like they told you at school). It makes you stronger physically and mentally. Try it now! See! Breathe deeply – fill that space deep down in your belly. Now you’re putting oxygen in your lungs and blood stream. You’re not only changing how your body feels and functions, but also how your mind does as well. There is so much research that demonstrates the strong link between physical and mental wellbeing – it’s undeniable. Stand up straight, walk tall (maybe not in this rowboat). Make yourself bigger not smaller in life.
What do you think?
Do you think any of these tips are helpful in a rowboat? What about in life? If you feel like you’ve stopped living and you’re just existing, it can be like you’re stuck adrift on an ocean of emptiness. You might feel like you want to get excited about life again, but it feels hopeless. Right now the problem may seem very complex….. but maybe the solution is simple.
Those people that succeed in life – they just do it! They take one little step, and they just keep going. If you’re reading this maybe you’re at the point where you know you must do something. You might be feeling stuck in life right now but don’t give up on yourself. No matter how hard it seems, how futile it feels – you need to find your way home. You’ve got to find YOU again!
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