“You’re a hustler” is something I’ve heard several times in my life. Culturally, it sounds amazing, but honestly, it never sat well with me. Deep down, I craved a structured life where I didn’t have to “hustle.” But growing up in a single-parent household where we had just enough to get by forced me to want more as an adult. This created an incredible work ethic that earned me the title of “hustler.”
Don’t get me wrong, this kind of determination is a gift. But when you can’t turn it off, it can feel like a curse. It took me a long time to realize that my hustle was actually rooted in survival mode.
What Is Survival Mode?
Everyone has a natural need to survive, but not everyone lives in survival mode. When all you think about is “getting by”, that’s when it becomes an identity.
Survival mode is a constant state of stress and worry, driven by the feeling that you always need to rescue yourself. That “threat” can be physical, financial, or emotional. For me, it was financial. I didn’t want to go back to struggling, so I was always chasing money. It took a major toll on my well-being. I could never fully enjoy the moment; I was always exhausted, and I felt like I had to juggle multiple things just to stay afloat.
Those are just a few signs, but let’s talk about the big five.
5 Signs You’re Stuck in Survival Mode
1. You’re constantly busy but making no progress
My schedule was always booked and busy, yet I felt further and further from my actual goals. One huge lesson I learned as a Christian woman is that sometimes, the enemy keeps you stuck in the wrong season by distracting you with misaligned opportunities. This makes you too drained to pursue the doors God actually wants to open for you, and you remain stuck where you DON’T want to be.
2. You constantly worry that everything will fall apart
This is called catastrophic thinking. It’s when your mind leaps straight to the worst-case scenario, like believing that taking one day off will somehow cause you to lose your home and end up on the street. It’s going from 0 to 100 real quick.
3. You chase instead of letting things flow to you
You say yes to every opportunity without stopping to ask, “Is this really for me?” because deep down you feel like you have to chase everything. Culture tells us to grind and hustle nonstop, but that mindset is toxic. Going after what you want is fine, but desperately chasing will only leave you drained.
4. You feel guilty or anxious when you sit still
Rest makes you uneasy. Sleeping in feels wrong. You’ve wired yourself to believe you always need to be in motion because stillness feels unsafe.
5. You grew up in struggle and fear going back
If you lacked stability growing up, peace feels unnatural. Stillness feels “off,” so you create things to do, even if they don’t matter, just to fill the space.
How to Break Free from Survival Mode
1. Sit in the discomfort of rest
Train yourself to slow down. This is harder than you think. Start by setting a timer for one hour and commit to sitting still. Read, watch TV, or listen to music, but stay put. Increase your “rest time” as it becomes more comfortable.
2. Slow down (cut your schedule)
I used to work seven days a week until my body literally forced me to stop. Eventually, I learned to set boundaries with myself. Now, I schedule time to do nothing. And guess what? Doing nothing is actually doing something.
3. Take inventory of your life
Most of the time, you’re safe. You’re not on the verge of sudden ruin. Write down everything you have and why you’re secure. It’s a visual reminder that the disaster you fear isn’t real.
4. Meditate on God’s Word
Scripture is full of reminders to rest in God and let go of anxiety. Write them down, post them where you’ll see them, and read them morning and night for 30 days straight. Verses like Philippians 4:6–7, Matthew 6:34, and Psalm 46:10 are powerful starting points.
5. Create a new strategy (and stick to it)
Breaking free requires consistency. Build a new routine that prioritizes peace, not just busyness, and keep practicing it. If you’re not sure how to start, I’ve created a step-by-step strategy in my eBook Get Unstuck When Life Sucks. It’s a 30-day guide on how to get unstuck mentally, emotionally, and physically. It all starts with a shift in your mindset.
Breaking survival mode won’t happen overnight, but with intention, rest, and faith, you can shift from hustling just to survive to living fully in God’s peace and abundance.
