One of the first survival books I ever read when I was an early teen stated that survival in the wilderness was 80% attitude and 20% skill and knowledge. It went on in detail about how to build a shelter in the woods, track game for setting snares etc. I always held onto that key note about the 80% during all the times I went on walkabouts in the Canadian woods, and I can state clearly and honestly that it is 100% true.

I have learned over the years many skills that are needed to become self-reliant, and a “prepper”, and have always checked myself against my own attitude, but never have I bothered to focus on the most important thing needed for survival, it just never occurred to me.

Read more: The Survival Template by John Heatherly