In the Walking Dead, episode 4, the crew that goes back into the city has to come up with a way to grab the cache of guns that Rick left in the middle of the street. At one point, Glenn comes up with the plan. Impressed, Dylan asks him what he used to do for a living. Glenn responds that he was a pizza delivery guy.
A pizza delivery guy comes up with the plan?
The point is that you have skills that you don’t realize you have! Or worse, you don’t recognize that they are skills that are valuable to you.
But, skills won’t do you any good if you don’t have the mental capacity to act with them in a time of crisis. One of the ways you build your mental capacity is to mentally rehearse situations. Brain research shows that this is a very valuable exercise.
In the web article entitled “Head Games: The Use of Mental Rehearsal to Improve Performance,” Dr. Scott Williams, of Raj Soin College of Business, Wright University, says, “Mental rehearsal of performances is an excellent way to support skill development.” He continues, “Mental rehearsal involves imagined, mental practice of performing a task as opposed to actual practice. That is, when engaging in mental rehearsal, one imagines performing without having to actually do anything.”
Dr. Williams does note that there needs to be some skill attainment to effectively do this. You can’t imagine yourself a 5th degree Black Belt and have never taken Karate in your life!
Remember images of the Winter Olympics when they show skiers who close their eyes and imagine themselves taking the turns, zigging and zagging coming down the hill. Or imagine the dancer who has to learn a long choreographed dance and goes through it in his/her head. This type of mental rehearsal helps them perform.
Identifying your skills and taking time to rehearse your abilities will help you fight off the zombies! Again, you have to have some kind of skill attainment. But who doesn’t know how to swing a bat or cut a zombies head off with a sword?
So let’s come back to the world of preparedness. Here are some potential scenarios you might consider mentally rehearsing!
1. Emergency Scenarios
- Mentally rehearse various emergency situations, such as natural disasters, home invasions, or medical emergencies. Visualizing the steps to take can improve response time and decision-making during actual events.
2. Survival Skills Practice
- Imagine performing critical survival tasks like building a shelter, starting a fire, or purifying water step-by-step. This mental practice can reinforce knowledge and boost confidence in real scenarios.
3. Evacuation Planning
- Visualize the evacuation process, including routes, necessary supplies, and communication with family members. This can help identify any potential issues and enhance coordination during an actual evacuation.
4. First Aid Procedures
- Mentally go through first aid techniques, such as CPR or treating wounds. This practice can help retain the information and improve performance when administering care in emergencies.
5. Self-Defense Situations
- Rehearse self-defense strategies and responses to potential threats. By visualizing these encounters, preppers can mentally prepare for high-stress situations.
6. Resource Management
- Imagine scenarios involving resource allocation, such as rationing food or water in a crisis. This can help develop strategies for effectively managing limited supplies.
7. SHTF Scenarios
- Envision various SHTF scenarios and the immediate actions required. This can include everything from securing your home to finding safe locations for shelter.
9. Practice Communication Skills
- Rehearse how to effectively communicate with family members or group members under stress. This helps ensure clarity and reduces the chance of misunderstandings during chaotic times.
By incorporating mental rehearsal into your preparation strategies, you can enhance your confidence, improve skills, and develop effective responses to potential emergencies.
Ok, back to the Walking Dead! Mentally rehearsing fighting off zombies would have helped wife beater man, who gets eaten in the tent! (viewer warning – don’t click that link if you don’t want to see wife beater man get eaten) He had no problem beating his wife in plain sight. But the idiot froze when the zombie shows up at his tent door. Coming face to face with a hungry zombie should be the first thing you imagine so that you can survive the apocalypse! LOL!
Check out the article from Dr. Williams – http://www.wright.edu/~scott.williams/LeaderLetter/rehearsal.htm
Peace,
Todd