The Brutal Truth About Survival

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for your selves and for your children." ~ Jesus

Author: Ndahiro Semugeshi

Dear reader, let me warn you about what you are about to read.

It's not my intention to make you feel good about maters of life, but to expose you to the ugly nature of this world and what you need to do to survive.

For goodness sake, stop worrying about other people you can't save. Save your own children first, from tragedy that is coming. Jesus was telling women to worry about their soon to be destroyed city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was destroyed and her people were taken as slaves to Babylon.

Whether you like it or not, life won't be easy on you just because you are innocent or ignorant. You will suffer consequences regardless of what you think. So, if you are not comfortable with being uncomfortable, then I urge you to skip this article.

In the course of my life, I have experienced several injustices. I was born in exile, bullied for being an immigrant and how I look, and so forth.

The question I never stop asking myself is, how can we stop being victims? How can we secure and lock in our survival and that of our people?

It all starts with how we're taught to see the world. Surviving has never been a lesson. We are taught everything else except learning how to fight, plan our survival, or even plan our success.

We get what we are given and ride along the wind of life hoping our problems and enemies will be no more. So, without farther ado, here are five survival mindsets.

1. This world is a jungle

You first need to realise that you are part of a big ecosystem on this planet. This planet is nothing but a jungle full of billions of creatures that are all trying to survive. Some want to kill you, some want to enslave you, and others want to use you.

You need to realise that this is not a playground. It is not a safe house. It’s not a paradise or a heaven. It is simply a jungle. Everything in it can and would kill you if you don’t pay attention and start to care about your life.

I don’t need to mention genocides, wars, colonialism, and slavery done by fellow human beings. Yes, this is a jungle and there are no rules to protect you from suffering except defending yourself. This is a battlefield. Only guns, arrows, and bombs are toys that you need.

Growing up, I was never told about the true nature of this place. Don’t be fooled by sweet philosophies and ideologies like love, compassion, and peace, etc...

They are smart ways that predators use to control the masses. It is easy to manipulate and kill brainwashed prey.

Wars are no longer fought by guns anymore. They are fought by persuasion, mental manipulations, and sanctions. Everything predators do has a purpose which is to dominate and sustain their survival.

Trust me, the poor are still poor, the weak are still slaves, and the foolish are still blind without knowing the game that is being played behind the scene. You need to wake up and start to play the game like the big fish.

2. Self preservation is the main driving force

Secondly, you need to realise that no one will care about you more than YOU. Which means it’s up to you to stand up and fight. Every creature will use you for their own survival.

I've met a lot of generous, kind, and loving people who risked everything to make my life better. These are my heroes. But never forget to actually save yourself. We are constantly taught to lay down our lives for others, but no one tells us how to fight for ourselves.

I meet a lot of people who are so terrified with the idea of putting themselves out their and pursue what is in their best interests because they have been conditioned to think for others only.

What intrigues me is, why do some people fail to love and save themselves the same way they love others?

According to Richard Dawkins’ theory of evolution, selfishness is in the genes of all creatures. Even when they act generous and caring. Sometimes they act altruistically to lure you in, so they can cook you for dinner (lol.just kidding).

Even people like siblings will only care about you because they care about prolonging their genes’ survival. How about love? Have you seen anyone who loved you for nothing?

People love what is similar to them. Something like a common history or interest. Not forgetting being used for procreation. Love is conditional. All creatures are eternally bound to their own needs first.

Whatever people do, do it for their own interest first. Rewards can be emotional or material. So, you better start putting your needs first like everybody by making changes in your life.

You can’t imagine what people do for their own selfishness. Families get destroyed and children grow up without both parents because people care so much about themselves.

Selfishness is a human natural trait. Regardless of all efforts that we put in to fight it. Facts speak for themselves. And denying it will not fix it. Hoping and believing that it doesn’t exist won’t change this human nature in one night.

People can and can’t change. Some can do it, and some will never change. Your duty is to be always aware that you might face both people in your life. Those who are naturally selfish and those who aren’t. Now that you know, stop being naive and blind. Treat yourself the way you treat people you care about.

You will never be disappointed in life once you see people for who they are. No one will trick you or fool you.

The problem is that many of us have been brainwashed to believe in being altruistic and caring for others first all the time. We have been raised to turn the other chick all the time.

Don’t get me wrong, you can always scratch the back of those who scratch yours. Help and benefits should be reciprocal. Both of you should be winning.

Both of you should be willing to live and to die for each other. And above all, you should always be able to protect yourself in case you are on your own.

3. Adapt or die

Whether you are dying, sick, or alive soon or later you need to realise that life is about surviving. And to stay alive you are going to need to adapt or die.

Adapting is not about how strong you are. It is about your ability to survive in new conditions.

You see, life will not always be the same. Matter of fact it changes every day. Only those who can change along with it can survive and succeed. You need to get used to change and find ways to get along with it. This is the greatest survival psychology you can ever have.

You never know where life will take you. Economies crumble, health deteriorates, and planets and stars die. To survive you will need to grow mental and psychological strengths. You need to be vigilant, smart and ambitious to be able to continue living.

Forget about your past experiences and long-gone triumphs. Life is not constant. It is progressive. There are always new problems. Every creature is getting smarter everyday.

And your enemies are always finding new ways to terminate you. Bacteria and viruses resist drugs, our planet is getting hotter, and resources are no longer enough.

You need to evolve intellectually, emotionally to stay in the game. Adapting is a mind game. Those who survive are those who have developed a strong mindset that will get them through any problem. They understand what it takes to survive.

Even if it means going to the moon. I mean who thought humans would go to space? Even those who didn’t want to, had to do it to keep up with their competition.

Living is hard, but adapting is costly. Smart species don’t just exist. They rule.

They have passed the stage of worrying about putting food on the table, creating jobs, and investing in retirement plans. They are looking into the future. They are planning new ways of life.

They are finding new vaccines, cures, and technologies that will solidify their survival. So, what are you doing to prepare yourself? What are you doing differently to overcome future obstacles? Are you prepared? What are you doing to decimate future adversity?

You have to stay up to date, learn, research, and stay ahead of time. Future problems will not be solved by present and past mindsets.

4. You are your own hero

Stop blaming the government, society, and gods.

If you don’t take and carry your cross, no one else will. I know it's easy to hope other people will be concerned by your needs but it’s not reliable.

Most people are concerned by the needs of themselves and their future generations. Assuming that people should do what is right, is naive. You forget that you cannot force people to do what they don’t know. It’s even worse when they don’t want to know.

So, begging, crying, and complaining to them will never help. You are just making a fool of yourself. If you were smart and aware, you should put all your wasted energy (in the war of convincing them to treat you right) to take care of yourself. 

Dependence can only guarantee one thing, and that is failure. If you don’t fight your own battles no one else will. People will make promises but at the end of the day it is always up to you.

The truth is that no one can understand and feel your pain. No one is losing their sleep because of you. No one is dying in hunger and diseases but you. Don’t get me wrong, you can always use all the help that you can get but you cannot rely on it.

My message is simple and clear. If you can’t save your own skin, no one else will. You are your priority. Every individual puts his/her interests first. So, should you!

You can’t wait for people to hold intervention meetings and fundraising parties for you.

Don’t you see how pathetic this is? Always waiting for someone else to determine your fate! So, get up and get out there and take what is yours. Think fast, study your enemy, and wage war to save your life because you are your own hero.

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5. Nothing will happen until you act

You will be surprised to see what you can accomplish once you decide to take action. Those who succeed are those who just do what they want. Once they have a clear idea, they act upon it.

The only direction in surviving is moving forward. You don’t run backwards when you are on the battlefield. As Nike’s slogan says; “just do it”.

You don’t think twice when it comes to surviving. You don’t debate or negotiate while you are bleeding. You don’t hesitate to save your own life. You just act right away. You run. You push hard and hard until you are far away from danger.

You don’t sit around and wait for your enemies to change their minds and let you go. You act in the moment. The present is the right time. It is the only asset you got. The past is unfixable, and the future is unknown. The time you have is NOW!

The hardest thing in making change is taking the first step. A lot of people are afraid and hesitant to take the first step. You will never be ready or complete to start.

You will never have enough to start. Everyone starts small and slow. The secret to accomplish anything is to start. Now, survival is on another level.

What would you do if your life was in danger? What do you do when you are pinned down with a gun on your head? There is only one thing to do. Which is to do something as soon as possible.

So, quit making plans and wishful goals. Cancel all the meetings and negotiations because you don’t need them. The time to talk is over. It's time to act.

The destiny of your life is in your hands. Only you have the power to command your life. Not even gods will come to your rescue without your will. Do you ever wonder why every war in the bible was won by blood?

Even gods help those who can help themselves. If you can’t stand for yourself no one else will. As Steve Jobs said, sell your crap. Everyone is selling something.

The only difference between you and them is that they act. They believe they can. They are only interested in winning. Everything else comes last. Their goal is to get out of captivity by doing whatever it takes to get out soon.

They might have a few advantages over you, but they are human beings like you. They have fear, weaknesses, and obstacles like you. But they also know their obligations and priorities. Which is to act now!