The P6 Preparedness Matrix (priorities + planning + products + provisions + practices + perspective = preparedness) is at the core of success in life. Each of these aspects are essential if we are to be prepared for what ever may befall us in any area of life; both the normal dailies as well as situations unique or unusual to us including long term survival. Think of a six sided cube. These six aspects frame the P6 Preparedness Matrix and thereby define and appropriately constrain our actions (our preparedness if you will) in any situation.
These six aspects, for the purpose of understanding the P6 Preparedness Matrix, are defined as follows:
- Perspective – A correct understanding of things in relation to each other. This includes the ability to grasp that perspective is not one dimensional and that proper perspective requires having all aspects of a given situation in clear view. This does not imply that once everything is in clear view that it will be as clearly understood. It does however mean seeing everything in relation to its surroundings. We are binocular beings with the ability to grasp the concept of perspective (height, width and depth).
- Priorities – The ability to establish an order of things where in one thing takes precedence over or has great importance than another. This includes the ability recognize and adapt to the reality (based on Perspective) that some priorities will require adjustment while others remain fixed.
- Provisions – Items you are able produce with your own hands and particular skill set. (i.e. tools, clothing, garden produce, your own P6 Matrix, etc.)
- Products – Items that you may or may not be able to produce yourself but by definition are acquired and cannot be replaced through any means other than trade, purchase or gift whether you define such as divine providence or human kindness. It also includes things acquired by any amoral means. (This is not a means of acquisition that I encourage or condone!)
- Planning – The process of putting together a series of actions and/ or events whether logical or illogical that you intend to utilize to achieve a specific result as its end. (Bear in mind Planning can technically only be deemed successful after the intended result is met or exceeded.)
- Practices – These are the methods developed and honed through regular, even habitual use of a Plan along with its associated Provisions or Products and utilizing the Priorities and Plans you have developed through Perspective.
- Preparedness – The combined actions that bring together various aspects of gaining full Perspective, Planning (both physically and mentally), developing Practices that become proven, reliable and trustworthy actions in a given situation, as well as making available to yourself, for future use, Products and Provisions.
We are all familiar with most of these concepts. However, I wish to present a discussion specifically related to the aspect of ‘perspective’.
What if the entire TSHTF [1] or TEOTWAWKI [2] ‘perspective’ is wrong? What if everything that has been discussed about societal and government breakdown along with all associated aspects that so many of your loyal readers are willing to accept as reasonable possibilities are all events leading up to TSHTF or TEOTWAWKI? What if none of these efforts to cobble together some sort of long term survival scheme will be successful for reasons we aren’t able to see or are personally unable to accept? Thus Perspective is at the core of any Preparedness effort.
Historically speaking, virtually every form of government has been tried, some with a greater measure of success than others, but not one has achieved the unfettered, unencumbered Utopia that each of us desires. Not one of us wants to live subjugated to, under the domination or rule of a leader who doesn’t have our best interests in mind when governing. Because of that, mankind has throughout our history constantly fought and fought for his right to choose. We have throughout history convinced ourselves that no one can better choose for us the we ourselves…individually. A recent contributor made clear that they were willing to die protecting the right of choice.
[A discourse on comparative religions, with a lengthy quote deleted, for brevity.]
While this brief discussion presents just two of the potentially compelling arguments that could be made, without touting specific religious beliefs, I would go so far as to suggest that failing to establish your P6 Matrix with this possibility in view might leave you vulnerable and in an indefensible position from which you cannot recover.
After all, if the Chinese character etymology is correct with regard to the story of a global deluge, then perhaps survival was anything but self-defined. There is nothing in any of the global deluge accounts to indicate there was more than one vessel. Sometimes making the right choice means accepting that when presented with only one choice we recognize that it is still a choice. Vision is not perspective if disconnected from reality. If you can’t see the future in the present, then you will become part of the past. Develop your P6 Preparedness Matrix and gain ‘perspective’.