There’s an important distinction between a victim mentality and a survivor mentality. People with a victim mentality see themselves as powerless and at the mercy of outside forces.
They believe that they can’t control their own lives and that bad things just happen to them. In contrast, people with a survivor mentality understand that they have the power to shape their own lives. They take responsibility for their choices and actions, and they believe that they can overcome any obstacle.
So why does it matter to adopt a survivor mentality? And what difference would it make in helping you achieve your goals and dreams, to have one or the other?
How having a victim vs survivor mentality will directly affect your success in life?
The way we think about ourselves can have a big impact on how we view the world and our place in it. For example, someone with a victim mentality might see themselves as powerless and at the mercy of their circumstances. This can lead to a feeling of hopelessness and resignation, making it difficult to take action and make positive changes.
In contrast, someone with a survivor mentality sees themselves as strong and capable, even in the face of adversity. This mindset can be empowering, helping people to take control of their lives and make choices that will lead to a better future.
Having a survivor mentality doesn’t mean that you won’t experience hardship, but it does mean that you’ll approach difficult situations with confidence and optimism. When faced with a challenge, a survivor will think “I can do this” instead of “this is too hard.” This positive outlook makes all the difference in achieving success.
While neither perspective is completely accurate, the survivor mindset is more likely to lead to positive outcomes. So next time you find yourself feeling down, try to remember that you are a survivor, not a victim. You have the strength and ability to overcome anything that life throws your way.
How to turn a victim mentality into a survivor mentality?
Everyone experiences hardships in life, but as explained earlier it’s how you deal with them that makes all the difference. Having a victim mentality will only make you feel helpless while having a survivor mentality will empower you to take control of your life and make the best of every situation.
The first step to turning your victim mentality into a survivor’s one is to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Yes, bad things happen, but dwelling on them will only make you feel worse. Instead, focus on what you can do to improve your current situation.
Second, start making decisions for yourself. Don’t let other people control your life; you’re the only one who knows what’s best for you. Others can politely give you advice when asked for it. But if not, they should stay in a corner and act kindly enough to be allowed to stay in your life.
What you should not do at any cost is let others decide for you. When you’re the one who makes all your life decisions for yourself, it will be easier to learn from your mistakes, grow and take responsibility for where you’re at in life, rather than blame external factors and play the victim.
Lastly, have faith in yourself. Believe that you can overcome any obstacle and reach your goals. You have the strength and ability to overcome whatever obstacle is in your path. It might not be easy, but believe that you can do it. focus on what you can control. You might not be able to change the past or control what others do, but you can control how you react and what you do next. By adopting a survivor mentality, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.
How to help a loved one adopt a survivor’s mentality?
There are only a few things more difficult than watching a loved one go through a tough time. Whether they’re dealing with a personal loss, a relationship struggle, or a work setback, it can be hard to see them feeling down. If you want to help them adopt a survivor’s mentality, here are a few things you can do:
Encourage them to talk about their feelings. It’s important to let them know that it’s okay to feel sad, scared, or angry. Just as importantly, though, is giving them the space to talk about what they’re going through.
Listening without judgment will show that you support and care for them. It will also enable them to grieve properly so they can move on and rebuild rather than stay stuck in a victim’s mentality for not having found a single soul to listen when they needed it the most.
Another thing you can do to help them is to focus on the positive. It can be easy to dwell on the negative when times are tough, but it’s important to focus on the positive aspects of their situation. Help them to see the silver lining in whatever cloud they’re currently under.
A final thing you can do to guide them and help them face their difficulties as a warrior is to encourage them to take action. A key part of a survivor’s mentality is taking action toward goals. Whether it’s setting up a meeting with their boss or going for a run, helping them take small steps forward will show that they can overcome anything they set their mind to.
A reminder of the consequences of victim mentality:
Nobody likes to feel like a victim. Nobody wants to be the one who always gets taken advantage of, or who never seems to catch a break. And yet, there are a lot of people out there who adopt a victim mentality as a way of life. They see themselves as powerless victims of circumstance, always at the mercy of other people and the forces of the universe.
There are consequences to this way of thinking. For one thing, it’s incredibly disempowering. When you believe that you’re powerless, you don’t try to change things or make your situation better. You just wait around for someone else to do it for you. The victim mentality also breeds resentment and anger.
If you’re always seeing yourself as a victim, you’re going to be angry a lot of the time at others or at the world, fate, life, god, or whatever you want to call it. And that anger is going to poison your relationships and your ability to enjoy life.
So if you find yourself falling into a victim mentality, it’s important to catch yourself and make a conscious effort to change your thinking. Remember that you’re not powerless; you have the ability to change your circumstances if you take action and work for it. Don’t let yourself be defined by your struggles, instead, define yourself by how you choose to react to them.
If you’re surrounded by people with such a mentality then it can also affect you negatively so check this article out on how to help your spouse snap out of their victim mentality.