Although Bitcoin represents a first step toward anti-fragility, there is still a great deal of other factors to consider when working toward lifetime self-sovereignty.
Since I listened to the “Once Bitten” audio episode with Christian Keroles and Daniel Prince, I’ve been curious in anti-fragility and what it means when applied to a human as opposed to a system.
If you want to make your life anti fragile, you need to take care of a number of things. I’ve been going through this process for the past 14 years without even realising it.
It has led to a different lifestyle than the bulk of normies, and it probably isn’t for everyone. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t think my situation is completely anti fragile, but I do think there are a lot of situations where, relative to others, my family would survive if the world ended.
Being anti fragile requires effort, and there are many routes to sovereignty that must be taken into consideration.
FOOD
Start with something straightforward and easy to do, like food.
Our food system is centralised and works in the favour of powerful corporations. Because just-in-time delivery is the cornerstone of its design, it is inherently vulnerable. Since supply chains have been unexpectedly broken and panic buying has taken root during the past few years, you have undoubtedly witnessed this personally.
A significant portion of the food that is provided to us also rarely resembles anything that should be eaten, in addition to this just-in-time delivery. You should generally be wary of anything that is packaged, as a general rule.
When it comes to food, avoiding stores is the best anti-fragility tactic. Purchases that come packed should be avoided wherever possible. Depending on your situation, you could find this challenging, but the reward is well worth it.
It should become routine to spend money on regional farms, small producers, and at your local farmers market. Be cautious of “resellers” who seek to pass off the goods as their own by buying them in bulk when you attend farmers’ markets. They aren’t any better than supermarkets, these folks. Visit your farmers frequently, talk to them, and ask them questions. They will appreciate your interest.
By distancing oneself from the main players, you can develop in anti-fragility by growing your own food. You can always create anything using the resources you already have, even if you don’t have 100 acres of land. At the absolute least, you may begin by growing some low-tech mushrooms or plants.
After some practise producing food, you’ll quickly realise that abundance is easy to produce. If you have more than you require, you can sell it or exchange it for a non-recyclable good or service. Aim to make your food with little to no outside help; ideally, completely close the loop. The world could end while you are still producing if there are no outside inputs.
Learn to ferment, pickle, and preserve food. These skills are invaluable in any situation and will not only allow you to enjoy fine cuisine and preserve your own food.
To feed myself and my family and to earn a living, connect with other local, like-minded producers, and prosper when the rest of the world was worried about possible food shortages, my family and I chose the road of a chemical-free market garden.
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Put on some weight! If you’re dealing with food anti-fragility in a decent manner, this will probably already put you on the right route. There are many approaches you may take with eating in terms of your health. Despite the fact that I am not a dietician and am not here to tell you what is right or wrong, if you feed your body nutritious food as opposed to unhealthy food, you will benefit.
The best meals are being given to your body, then? Now is the time to start working out. There are very few situations in life where being active and healthy might be advantageous. There are many different definitions of “fitness,” but for the purposes of anti-fragility, you should be physically able to handle almost any challenge that life may throw at you.
You won’t be able to succeed in the real world if you can run a marathon but can’t lift 90 pounds. If you can deadlift 450 pounds but can’t run 400 yards, it won’t help you in the real world. You must be adaptable. Start where you are and work consistently over time.
Since I can remember, I’ve been exercising five days a week (with just a brief hiatus before 2020). I’ve been doing a few martial arts disciplines for close to 20 years in addition to my regular, arduous gym routines. In addition to the obvious physical benefits of training, there are several mental benefits as well, all of which add up to anti-fragility.
Due to my diet and activity, I have gone more than ten years without needing to see a doctor. One needs to be in good physical and mental health to be truly anti fragile.
MONIES AND PROFITS
Starting with income.
Actually, there are only two factors to consider: To start, you need to make more money than you spend. This makes intuitive sense to me (and presumably a lot of you). Any way you can, try to either raise your income or cut back on your spending. When it comes down to it, more people than you may imagine are capable of living fairly pleasant lives. Quit rewarding your dopamine receptors with unneeded purchases, and stop thinking like a consumer. All of your expenses should be examined to see if they are truly necessary. Spending money on fun is certainly an option, but don’t let that define who you are. Be happy without spending money by finding a means to be so.
Second, you should think about where that income is coming from. You can soon find yourself in serious trouble if your main source of money is from one employer. either launch numerous side enterprises or one primary one. It needn’t be huge, but it should be available as a fallback and something you can build upon if necessary. Take a look at businesses that people will always need, even in challenging situations. For example, everyone needs to eat. If you run a popular food-producing business, people will come to you in times of need.
When it comes to money, there are essentially two schools of thought: one contends that debt is harmful, while the other contends that it is advantageous. In my view, debt in the context of economic advancement is not always a bad thing when it is well managed. Debt is unquestionably terrible when economies start to stutter, which is the case right now. Leverage is provided by debt, and when the tide goes out, it is obvious who is swimming naked. Your likelihood of going broke significantly rises if you have debt. Eliminate danger by not accruing debt.
You can gradually accumulate a sizable financial safety net if you don’t have any debt and have more income than expenses. Use that to your advantage.
COMMUNITY
Community is usually the last thing that comes to mind when talking about anti-fragility. No matter how capable and independent you are, there will always be a time when you need other people.
Identify your tribe. Join or start a community in your area. Go above and above to help those in need and risk your reputation in the process. Establish contacts.
Make something that people in your neighbourhood will buy.
Despite appearances, this will also be advantageous.
IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Always be learning new stuff. Learn how to build and fix things, keep your car in good working order, weld, work with wood, cook, ferment, and preserve food. Put your newly acquired, useful abilities to work on a regular basis. It’s not necessary to be an expert in everything, but having a variety of skills will help you finish jobs as they arise.
This depth of knowledge will not only be useful to you personally throughout your life and assist you in navigating some tricky situations, but it will also make you valuable to others in need (see community above).
SUFFICIENCY AND MENTALITY
You can work as hard as you want to become anti fragile while the environment is unaltered. Everything around you, including the system you are being imprisoned in, is essentially fragile. It was either created to maximise profit or to take something valuable away from you. It is evident that it has not been built to react swiftly to changing situations.
Distance yourself from “the system” as much as you can, and cease relying on any organisations. Being less reliant on the government, the healthcare sector, the food sector, or other major industries can help you become more anti fragile. They will frequently blame you for their mistakes in an effort to save face. To keep yourself out of their reach, never take their handouts.
Anti-fragility is essentially a mental state. Completely independent and self-sufficient. Adopt the belief that, with enough determination, anything is achievable. Put a stop to all tendencies toward laziness and continually strive for improvement. Consider the challenges you face as challenges to overcome. Even though it takes a while, if you stick with it, you’ll get there. You will get resilient.
Michael is the guest author on this page. The opinions expressed may not reflect those of Bitcoin Magazine or BTC Inc. and are strictly those of the author.