Before we dive in today: Prayers up for everyone dealing with the aftermath of the Texas floods. The loss of life has been heartbreaking. As always, we'll work to connect you with ways to help — but only through channels where your time, money, and energy won't be wasted. Stay tuned.

Today, we talk about being a victim vs being a victor in the same situations leading to the question: How important is your perspective? We also cover our usual Monday Segments.

Featured Event: July 26 Canning Class in the Holler https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/product/canning-101/

Sponsor 1: LiveFree.Academy – July 12 Encore of this Year's Exit and Build Land Summit Probably the BEST presentation I've ever given. https://www.exitandbuildlandsummit.com/?aff=bf5c1cb3991a4fdad92049d73c0b50c7d86f0f7314313a50298a11efa1565b71

Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN Helping entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and freedom-minded folks handle taxes the smart way.

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

Tried a new method for preserving Swiss chard
Second wave of cucumbers is coming in this week
Ate a frog: cleared out the storage shed (creating more space for power pantry storage instead of just piles of stuff)
Time to double down on drying herbs for tea and cooking

Operation Independence

Really excited about the upcoming canning class
Hosted a Hipcamper this weekend — boom! $25 earned

Main Topic of the Show: Victim or Victor

First let's look at what a victim is - or rather signs that you are acting like a victim and therefore bringing more negative upon yourself:

Overusing the term "I can't"
Explaining to friends all the things that went wrong or worked against you EVERY time you get together.
Obsessing on what other people think about you, say about you, did to you - or are doing to you to undermine you
Telling yourself you'll never get X because Y happened - over and over - this is a message that will come true when you say it - you are the story you tell yourself
Focus on the causes of your current troubles rather than the things that can solve problems.

And what does the victor look like?

Takes rabid responsibility for their part in their own troubles (John Bush on self reflection, Buying things with a credit card to satisfy the instant gratification monkey, Friend with a violent husband removing herself from access, etc.)
Controls their reaction to bad things to make the best of it - but not in a fake toxic positivity way. (Macchu Picchu)
Focuses on what they CAN control (this one hurts for a reforming political junkie)
Sees obstacles as challenges rather than insurmountable roadblocks
Gains self worth internally, not from the feedback of others (and therefore cares not what people say about them or if people are trying to undermine them)

A victor will ask - how can I? A victim will say I can't. That is the biggest difference between the two.

So how do you become a victor when you are stuck as a victim?

Recognize where you are - that is the first step to owning your future
Shift your mindset from being helpless to proactive, rabid responsibility
Know what you cannot control, and embrace that you can control your reaction to it
Kill the negative thoughts and paranoia and ask yourself - How can i?
Forgive - forgive yourself, forgive those around you - but it is ok to NOT forget6. Set boundaries to keep yourself building your future rather than getting stuck in past, unhealthy cycles.

That choice — to build forward instead of staying broken — is what changes everything.

Make it a great week.

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

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