The Walking Dead is about surviving zombies, but how does that relate to being a New 40 Something Man?
Read how to survive and thrive and become a new 40 something man and not a 40 something zombie!
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror drama television series developed by Frank Darabont. It is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It stars Andrew Lincoln as sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world dominated by flesh-eating zombies. He sets out to find his family and encounters many other survivors along the way.
So what does the AMC TV series The Walking Dead have to do with being a 40 something man?
• Having a survival instinct
• Being adaptable
• Mental toughness
In this article we will talk about survival instincts, adaptability and the mental toughness of being a New 40 Something Man vs. being an average 40 something zombie.
So let’s suppose that our challenges are our zombies and how we handle these challenges will either turn us into a zombie or a survivor. Just work with me for a moment it will be well worth it.
This is not the Walking Dead Xbox 360 video game, this is real life.
Now, we get to the question that I posed in the title of this article: Is our survival instinct failing us?
Survivor or Zombie
Are you a stress zombie or a stress survivor? If you are beating the crap out of stress you are doing the following:
• Making time for the important things in life; such as spending time with family and friends.
• Finding ways to enjoy you favorite pastimes.
• Exercising and staying active.
If you are not beating the crap out of stress and you’re losing the fight. You are doing the following:
• Always running out of time for anything outside of work.
• Depressed about where you are in life.
• Living with mediocrity.
Adaptable or Zombie
Are you adaptable or an un-adaptable zombie? If you are adaptable you are doing the following:
• Adapting successfully to changing situations & environments
• Keeping calm in the face of difficulties
• Planning ahead, but having alternative options in case things go wrong
• Thinking quickly to respond to sudden changes in circumstances
• Persisting in the face of unexpected difficulties
• Anticipating & responding positively to changing environments
• Have the ability to adapt to change positively regardless of the circumstance
• Taking on new challenges at short notice.
• Dealing with changing priorities/workloads
For example in The Walking Dead the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, a small group of survivors travel across the country in search of a new home away from the hordes. Rick Grimes, who was a police officer in the old world, leads the group. As their situation grows more and more grim, the group’s desperation to survive pushes them to do almost anything to stay alive.
“If you can’t adapt or be flexible you will become a zombie or die by one.”
Mental toughness or Lifeless zombie
While the story line revolves around groups of people who are trying to survive, while vastly outnumbered by the “walkers,” they have to make tough decisions. They have to BE tough… and not necessarily mean, avoid losing part of their humanity that would ultimately relegate them to be no better than animals (or zombies). They’re struggling to survive against crazy egomaniacs driven to start wars etc…
The weapons and tactics change, the situations vary, but the bottom line is the same. Survival is not a matter of physical toughness and having the sexiest gear, it’s about mental toughness. It’s important, when things get rough, to maintain control of yourself. Emotions are perhaps the most meaningful part of being human, but they’re also your biggest threat, when it’s time to act. In an emergency situation, we all can freeze, depending on what happens.
Going back to the TV show, this is something I’ve noticed throughout the series- that the characters are constantly tested, not so much physically, but mentally.
Such mental qualities are important for the “tough times” we have yet to face. Those who aren’t mentally prepared will suffer and perish quickly. Let’s just hope that those who do survive are able to return to some semblance of humanity, when the killing is done, and it’s time to rebuild.
Watch the show. If you can get past the blood and gore, you’ll see what I mean…
If you feel that you are not getting out of life what you deserve become a part of a community of successful and happy 40 something men who are taking control of their life by following the path of The New 40 Something Man and winning the fight against the zombies just like (Andrew Lincoln as Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Grimes) who is a 40 something man!
