Are you ahead of the curve or simply being paranoid?
I doubt anyone would agree that they are just paranoid. A paranoid does not realize he’s been extreme with his preparations.
Now, don’t get me wrong, survival preparedness is critical. It is one of the core goals of prepping.
However, you have to realize that you can go extreme while at it.
And you shouldn’t be. Paranoia can cause you to become very distrustful of people around you, and you may start splurging out on very unnecessary gear.
Let’s walk through three key points that’ll help you draw the line between preparedness and paranoia.
Critical Points to Avoid Paranoia As a Prepper
Prepping Costs Should Agree With Common Sense
The typical paranoid prepper spends his earnings and savings on preps that are unnecessary. Do you need that latest piece of tactic gear? Can you bug out with a bag weighing over 400 pounds? Do you truly believe you’ll someday use the 10 000 rounds of ammo you’ve just stashed away in your safe? You honestly don’t have to hurt your financial sustainability before preparing adequately for the future.
Treat prepping like insurance. When buying gear, focus on the scenarios that are most likely to occur. If you live in areas prone to flood, build projects that will mitigate the possibility of losing your home to a flood. This relates to whatever region you’re living in. This is how a person ahead of the curve spends.
Your Education Should Improve Decision-making, not Cause More Worry
As preppers, you’re constantly improving your knowledge base. You’re a student of history who has to stay updated on current happenings too. But it is what you do with what you know that matters more. A rational prepper prepares ahead; a paranoid prepper becomes restless due to what he knows.
Education is supposed to improve your sense of judgment over time. If, after long in the prepper community, you still find yourself fretting over every threat, you are suffering from paranoia. Prepare for risks that surface. Do not waste time focusing on unfounded conspiracy theories.
Prep Just Enough for a Buffer
When you’re paranoid, you don’t only buy unnecessary gear, but you also buy a very excessive amount. If you know any panic buyer during the pandemic, check their stores — they would have toilet papers everywhere. That’s obviously more than they needed.
A prepper simply ahead of the curve does not make purchases like this. You have to recognize that disasters are not meant to last forever. You honestly don’t need foods that’ll last a lifetime in your cache. When buying supplies to cache, you should choose products that will last for very long. Buying canned foods with an expiry date of 10-15 years is much more advisable than buying plenty of products meant to feed you for ten good years.
Note the difference.
So: Are You Ahead of the Curve or Simply Being Paranoid?
Prepping has to be balanced. While I understand that there is no one formula that solves it all, everyone has different risk tolerances; you must also understand that going extreme can hurt you in the long run. Buying things you don’t need and well know you may never need can put you and yours in severe financial problems. Also, you don’t want to become distrustful of everyone around you. Prepping just not be taken to the extreme.
That aside, have you realized where you stand on the spectrum? Are you ahead of the curve or simply being paranoid?