I couldn't agree more. I was going to ask when your book is coming out that might cover topics like this, but I think I prefer the videos more. ;-) So much life changing wisdom in a such a great, succinct presentation.
Even though that you posted this video 4 years ago the information that you have given is still continuing to serve me very well thank you very very much sir
I love to watch your vids when every day "material" stresses start to feal more important than they are, like times when i forget about real values that we all take for granted, health, loved ones etc... So thank you very much for giving me a reality check when i need that kick up the ass! Best wishes
So glad these videos can provide that "reality check"! I know how life can do that -- make the unimportant things seem important, so that we miss the real, vital moments that are passing us by. If these videos can help shift that a little -- awesome! =) Kenton
Another valuable video! I am my way to transform my thinking which is vital in surviving with peace in today's chaotic society. Your family is blessed to have you lead them. Thank you, again, for these much needed informational videos.
Hey Kenton, I want to let you know my support for you to continue this channel. I've always watched these types of videos, I love knowing different ways to survive in the wild, but I've never found a channel that has motivated me like your channel has. I'm not exactly able to go a woods area (live in city) but I use these types of videos and apply to everyday living. You are extremely inspiring and I feel genuinely safe when learning from you, that's why I really hope you never stop this, it is really great work your doing. This video really speaks to me, and helped me evaluate my mental state and get me back on track, thank you. Regards -Matt
It's one of the things I managed to get rid of in my life, but I could never put my finger to what it really is. Thanks for explaining it so nicely, now I can finally tell people what it is exactly. For me, getting rid of that thinking was not the best way to do it, but it worked. I had a depression, which made me not want to ever get out of bed, because life was horrible back then, toxic family and pointless studies with no real benefit. So naturally, I didn't have a tiniest bit of motivation to go to the studies, and because of that I was almost thrown out. But, I had to do it, for legal reasons that I'm not going to explain here - it would take too long and has too many details, law is very overcomplicated. Long story short, if I didn't finish that year of studies, we'd lose a lot of money, and we'd be thrown out of the apartament, which was the last thing we had. So I made a vow, I'm either going to finish that year, or I'm going to kill myself. When I accepted that something as final as death as one of my options, suddenly I stopped thinking so much about whether I'm going to do it or not. I didn't care that much about my life at that time, so I thought I might as well give it a try. I managed to do all the lessons and classes, all the works, all the homework and learn all of the material that was spread over six months in two weeks. I didn't really sleep in these two weeks, but I did it. And it changed something in me too. I didn't want to kill myself anymore, because I surprised myself with what I'm really capable of. Soon after that I moved out from my family, and life has only been better, not problem-less, but I'm no longer afraid of those stories. Sometimes I purposefully go into creating stories of what could happen, just to see if I can find a way out and you know what? I had an answer to every story my mind would come up with, to the point where even death is accepted as something that can happen, because it always can. Second thing that really helped me switch on to creative thinking was starting my adventure with survivalism. It's funny how out there in the woods all that matters is how creatively you can use your resources, and that mindset carries over to regular life too. Ever since my first night in the woods, when I managed to keep calm when panic started seeping into my mind, no problem I encountered in regular life seems like a big one. Even if I lose everything, I know the basics of how to survive anyway, because I've put myself in these scenarios already ;) And that feeling of real and true independence is the feeling I wish all people would go through their lives with.
Thanks for sharing this great life experience with us, my friend! You've explored so much of this deeply, and have been through dark places that many of us find ourselves facing every day. Your wisdom is appreciated! =) Kenton
Thanks, Kenton. I just made the move to another country to go to school, and just today I got some bad news from immigration regarding my paperwork that has the potential to send me back home. I was definitely caught in a dead end thinking loop that made me incredibly anxious and I also found myself having much lower patience with others today. This video helps me a lot! Already just phrasing that question, "How can I stay here to go to school?" has made such an emotional difference. I'm going to succeed, I just need to assess my tools available and use them! Like you said, there is definitely a sensation that goes along with dead end thinking (a negative gnawing in the pit of my stomach for me); but when you turn away from dead end thinking everything feels lighter. still i'd rather be lost in the woods than lost in a foreign bureaucracy ;)
Lost in the woods rather than lost in a foreign bureaucracy. I agree completely! Awesome attitude shift, Christopher. I'm so glad this video came at the right time for you! =) Kenton
Like a lot of times in life, it really is about efficiency. In a stressful situation, thinking about anything that doesn't end in a decision probably is a waste of resources. Wondering about how things might pan out is great, it's called philosophy, but it's also best reserved for a leisurely environment. If you know your skills, you should already know if you're able to do something or not, and you can directly switch to an alternative solution, or an approach thereof. If there indeed are no alternatives, you might as well try your best, as it does no harm. Dwelling on failures especially is no good, since you just learned something - a way how it's *not* done. That's a check that you can cash in right away for your next try. :D
I thank you for your videos and the way you have helped me transform negativity I receive from around me. Here's a good example -- I like to think the people who click the "Dislike" button -- Are simply just trying to "download" the video!!! I know it makes me happier. Thanks again my brother!!!
Awesome switch to make! You know, I talked with a RU-vid tech at one point about the dislike button, and he told me that BOTH likes and dislikes increase your ratings on RU-vid, making it more likely your video will be recommended. So when someone hits "dislike" they aren't actually hurting your channel, but helping it. Another fun way to transform it! =) Kenton
Come for the bushcraft, stay for the insight. Thanks a lot you are inspiring me to be a better person. Your positive attitute and cut-to-the-chase videos are thick with lessons. (btw forgive my english, I'm not born in an English speaking country :) )
“Come for the bushcraft, stay for the insight”- You just came up with an excellent tag line for the whole channel! Haha I wonder how many other people subbed for the exact same reason
I like your video. It leaves me with a lot of thoughts. Wall of text incoming: I've learned as a student in elementary school that you can not judge a child by his ''typical for him/her being a nuisance'' behaviour. Instead of staying grumpy and annoyed by this typical behaviour, you should keep an open mind and look for possibilities. While it is still necessary to admonish the child for his/her behaviour in order to maintain the authority, awareness of this form of Dead-End Thinking gives you a better understanding of the childs stimuli and behaviour. It also provides windows of opportunity to try something new to improve his/her behaviour and to learn more about his or her personality. That being said, an open mind in turn strengthens your bond with the child and your able to give this behaviour a place for himself, his classmates and the school enviroment at large. Children often have Dead End Thinking,. ''I can't do it.'' is commonly heard phrase. I'd like to encourage children to step over their own boundaries and to think of possibilities. I thought of a way to make it more playful to young children. ''Alright, imagine a world with the same classroom as ours with a copy of you in it, but he/she does want to try it, what would he/she do?'' It may not persuade them to try it, but at least they are thinking of other possibilities.
Perfect! You are opening doors of possibilities by sharing this way of thinking. So much more productive than the more typical "box and label" thinking. Bravo! =) Kenton
***** A major place of exploration and continued growth for me, this hacking of our usual mind-set. I sense I am in the presence of a fellow "hacker" =)
Every single video of yours relates to the big picture of your other videos. Trust me,I'm trying to find holes in your game,because that is what my mind does naturally,but I wouldn't be surprised if I end up finding nothing after watching all of your videos,because "self awareness" is really what it is all about and you seem to have that in spades. I realize that everything is a forever learning process,but I have never witnessed anyone to understand it so well as you do. I am naturally self aware,but not when my emotional cognitive functions are at play (at least not with negative emotions). Negative emotions cloud rational thought,unless you are self aware. Keep amazing me in your other videos, Gord.
Gord, my hope was that there would be a "river that runs through" these videos -- I'm happy you can see it. I'm so glad you're watching these, and also that you're looking for holes! Please let me know if and when you find some -- through your eyes, I can then grow! =) Kenton
Things people say often bring to mind snatches of songs, and sometime I go listen to them on Yahoo and then sometimes whichever take my fancy from among the ones Yahoo suggests. So your question, "How am I going to make it through the night?" led me to... "Help me make it through the night" (the Gloria Gaynor version; the others I know are too upbeat, even that of Kris Kristofferson, who wrote it)... "I will survive" (also Gloria Gaynor)... "The Sound of Silence" (Simon and Garfunkel). Of course the selection offered is biased by what I've listened to in the past, so it's not like reading tea leaves, but it is interesting that they fit in so well with your themes. Now I had better go look at your video about getting a song out of your mind. lol
As usual your short video provides me with enough ideas and thoughts it could easily lead into an hours long conversation haha! I will share one thought though. Dead end thinking, I'm sure we can all think back to many times when we've done this. So we have the dichotomy almost between the "Can I" and the "How will I" mindset. Something interesting popped into my mind as you spoke about this. Do we sometimes use "Can I" thinking as an easy way out? What I mean is, as soon as I talk about "How will I", now I have no excuse not to take action. So rather than a wilderness situation, let's use something else. I have something I've been thinking about doing but feel some fear (public speaking, starting a new business etc). If I bury myself in "Can I" thinking, I always have an excuse. As soon as the "How will I" takes away my excuses, now I am faced head on with the fear, and no reason to not to something but the reality of the fear itself. Maybe, something like that. Maybe there is something there that keeps some people in a "Can I" mode. Anyway, random thought trigger for the day :D Good talk as usual my friend! ~Mike
I think you're absolutely right, Mike, and that's a great observation. "How will I" leads us straight into the fields of fear and commitment. Much easier to just stay in "Can I" mode, where we can let something like public speaking sit for decades (or our whole life!) =) Kenton
That's it exactly! A better phrasing than mine, I dare say! But the same thing -- assuming success and reaping the confidence that allows us to access our creative, puzzle-solving mind. Beautiful! =) Kenton
+ReWildUniversity Oh I dunno if it's better than yours, brother. I think everyone will have a slightly different phrase that nudges the higher self into action. "What would Kenton do?" That'd be a good one too! Really enjoying this content. There's lots of "gear" channels but damn few mindset channels. Gear breaks. Mindset overcomes. Keep on keepin' on, sir!
+ReWildUniversity "Kind words" lol. You understand that your entire endevour is a kindness right? So many people are benefiting. If I can offer kind words as a sort of repayment ... I got a pretty good deal. lol. Stay your course sir! Truely inspiring.
you help very many people Kenton, I recommended your videos to my co workers EMT/Firefighters that like me have a hard time relaxing and falling asleep due to the PTSD that comes with the job unfortunately, and few know how to shut it off when not at work, I cant. God bless you Kenton, your Wife and your Daughter, heck bless your whole family brother.
that's so nice to hear Kenton, I look forward to more of your uplifting and helpful videos brother, you are a great person Kenton, a rare gem, im lucky to have found you. God bless
hey!!! Kenton you just told us how important a PAUSE ...... is in the dead end thinking. in a similar way I like to turn a dead end thought in to a lesson not to be trapped in the outa control thoughts that is accompany dead end thinking. keep up the great info thank you 😺 peace ✌
Great thought my friend. That pause. And turning it into a lesson via awareness -- definitely deepens the practice, as long as we don't fall into self-punishment! =) Kenton
Hi Kenton, well I stopped thinking that I could not do it, that I couldn´t fix my problem and forced myself to just figured out to fix it instead, and after a quick reminder of the "fear doors" wisdom, I had the courage needed and i found a way to solve my issue. Thank so much for the help, I hope you know that your advice and your way of life has helped me improve my own and many others i'm sure. Quasi
you know kenton society also influences how the negative takes over I'm going to TRY it no I'm going to do it that's how iv viewed things not try but DO it good or bad now I view things different cause drs tell you with my medical shape I can't do this that now that this new lyme stuff hit me I'm listening to them again but slowly coming back to I will that's the way I trained my thinking so there might be times when how,maybe,try comes out I'm going to always takes over great vid brother atb....tom
Tom, that is a perfect example. I grew up in a medical household, and know all too well the orthodox medical community's tendency toward dead-end thinking. But there are some great docs out there, and some awesome alternative practitioners (and some on the border of this -- like fully trained MDs who are exploring the Functional Medicine paradigm. I have some major experience with lyme -- write me at rewildu (at) yahoo (dot) com and I can share some possibilities if the regular treatment has failed you. =) Kenton
Sometimes I think it would be fun to go out into nature and learn about this kind of stuff. But every time I've been camping, the mosquitos have been unbearable. Sometimes it's bad enough that you can hear them collectively at night, like some distant engine, it's truly horrible. The way you sit and talk in this video would be impossible around here. I don't know if you're just blessed to not have mosquitos where you are, or if they don't come after you, but I simply stopped camping a few years ago because I got sick of being bitten constantly.
They actually can get atrocious here. Sometimes they are so thick they fly into your mouth and you'll have 10 or 15 biting you at once on your face and neck. My solution isn't for everyone -- it involves making mental shifts where we no longer resist the sound or the stings. Matt, my current student, gives his own mental solution in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TgDYgXq-8Kg.html =) Kenton
