5 Steps for Getting Out of Survival Mode
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—links support my mission, no cost to you.
Getting out of survival mode can feel impossible without the right mindset. I’ve spent the better part of 10 years in survival mode, and I was constantly searching for a way out that would stick. In this post, I’m going to share with you the 5 steps I used to get out of survival mode once and for all.
1. Awareness
As I spoke about in detail in “How I Realized I Was Living In Survival Mode”, awareness is the first step to getting out of it. Awareness is crucial when you want to make a lasting change in any facet of life. You can’t get out of the darkness if you have no idea that light exists. Practicing self-awareness and self-discovery is a great place to start.
Here’s the link to a journal I love to use for this purpose.
To gain awareness if you are in survival mode or not, read “What Living in Survival Mode is Like” to gain clarity on what life looks like when you are in this state. Building awareness is rooted in a growth mindset.
2. Process the Past
As I was getting out of survival mode, I mourned where I was and what I lost. I had emotionally missed out on important times in my life, people, events, love, friendships, and so many other things. Looking at where I was then, broken and with the sudden awareness that I’d missed out on so much of life… It hurt!
It is normal to go through the grieving process when you’ve gained awareness that can no longer be hidden. Although this is part of the process, it doesn’t mean it isn’t hard to let go of the things you lost while living in survival mode. You have to trust that there is something better waiting for you after getting out of survival mode. Don’t put yourself down for being sad, angry, or resentful, but instead allow those emotions to wash over you, process them, and prepare yourself to receive a life that is beautiful and whole.
3. Take Action
How many times did you try to take action while living in survival mode?
For some of us, we tried and tried and always had the same outcome. We crawled right back into the hole we lived in for so long. The sunlight burns when you haven’t seen it in forever!
I had to fight the anxiety of trying to do something and fearing failure. In the past, I had told myself “It will be different this time” and it NEVER was. But today, it is a true statement. On your journey of getting out of survival mode, you now have new tools, skills, awareness, and grace, to pivot and move forward. People really can change, learn, and grow.
You can learn the skills you need to protect yourself in this new season.
4. Detach
We can put in as much work in as many areas as we want, but we cannot control the outcome of our efforts.
Letting go of the outcome can help heal us and allow us to let go of the past. Keeping the ultimate goal in mind and going toward it is the step that seals you out of survival mode. You are called to run toward your goal without a guarantee that you will achieve it. Being stuck can be detrimental to you and those around you because it causes you to forget your goals and dreams in life. But what is life without goals and dreams? Don’t be afraid to keep moving toward your goal even though it may be scary to let go of what happens next.
5. Recalibrate
It is very common that the outcome will not be that which you originally sought. That doesn’t mean that it was the wrong dream to chase, but it doesn’t mean you stop chasing a dream altogether. Don’t be afraid of failure or switching gears. If your goal is different and you change your mind, that isn’t a failure.
It has taken me a full year to know which direction I am truly headed. But you don’t start a road trip with an abundance of knowledge about where you are going. You don’t know what the street signs look like and you don’t know all of the buildings on the block. You just get in the car and head toward your predicted destination.
Change isn’t a failure.
Doing something different isn’t a failure.
Something being different than the original idea or moving in another direction is you saying YES to your call and actively listening to God. You have what it takes to get out of this tough place for good.
It won’t be overnight.
It won’t be easy.
But it is possible. I’m living proof!
This is your sign. Don’t wait anymore!
Living in Survival Mode: Resources
If you feel like you are stuck in survival mode and can’t find a way out, click the button below to access free worksheets I created to help you find your next step on your healing journey.
Follow my blog to read about what living in survival mode is like, how I realized I was living in survival mode, and 5 steps for getting out of survival mode.
This post was all about the 5 steps for getting out of survival mode. You don’t have to live in survival mode anymore, you have the power to take control of your life again!
Until next time,
Audye
Are You Still Stuck?
If you are a woman who suffered narcissistic abuse or are in narcissistic abuse recovery but are stuck in the survival mode patterns you learned, get the 26-page digital workbook that helps you break those cycles for good.
