Unbinding Identification: Embracing Advantage Past Labels as Deer Hunters
Printed February 1st by Eric Clark, Okayest Hunter Co-Founder
In 2023, I made a decision to do away with my 2019 Ford F-150 to help our single-income household higher. I used to be shocked by how a lot my ego and sense of id had been tied to a rattling truck. I imply, what sort of deer hunter am I if I do not drive a truck? The place will I put all my gear? How will I tow my trailer? The place will I put the deer I tag each few years? I used to be having a bizarre id disaster, and for what? So I might reputably name myself a deer hunter?? I purchased a used blue Ford Fusion, and it seems my three children assume it is the best factor ever and have named it Bluey after the cartoon present that I in all probability get pleasure from watching greater than them.
We have all fallen into the entice of linking our id with our possessions and standing— there is a saying for it: “The garments make the person.” Once we’re rocking a robust job, we exude confidence. Driving the wave of a profitable looking season makes us really feel like a stone chilly massive buck killer. Compliments? We soak them up, as a result of, clearly, they’re well-deserved and who is aware of while you’ll have one other profitable season. I imply, who would not love to listen to, “Hell of a buck, man, solution to get it carried out!”
So long as all the pieces’s going easily, it is powerful to see the draw back of tying our id to externals (except for the occasional inflated ego). The truth hits when the tables flip, revealing how dangerous it has been. Associating our id with exterior components in the course of the good instances makes it inevitable to really feel the sting when those self same externals paint us as “losers” for having a piss poor looking season, or “fools” getting rid or our truck, or targets of others’ disdain.
This lesson taught me to develop a great sense of self by not tying my id to exterior issues. If you happen to’ve ever listened to the Okayest Hunter podcast, you have seemingly heard me speak about Stoicism and the way I attempt to deploy it all through numerous sides of my life, looking included. In keeping with Stoicism, knowledge, braveness, and justice are important for private development and id. Our model, the Okayest Hunter, is all about selling a optimistic and welcoming looking tradition that is not nearly particular person accomplishments. As an alternative of superficial issues, like a truck for instance, folks can construct genuine connections and really feel fulfilled by specializing in values like humility and kindness that come from inside.
In a world brimming with numerous opinions, life, and pursuits, it is not unusual for people to forge their identities round exterior components like possessions, political affiliations, or perceived toughness. I am exploring the thought of untethering one’s id from exterior markers and embracing a extra virtuous and inherently good sense of self to embolden the looking neighborhood to place an finish to hunter shaming and furuther codify our mission to make the looking neighborhood a optimistic place for generations to return.
The Pitfalls of Identification Attachment:
Once we connect our id to exterior components, we danger having a slender and divisive perspective. This will happen after we outline ourselves solely by our truck, looking gear, or political affiliation. Such an attachment can result in a way of superiority or exclusion, impeding private development and stopping real connections with others. In flip, this may contribute to a divisive mindset that separates “us” from “them.” What number of people struggle over crossbows vs. compound, Chevy vs. Ford, or Saddle vs. Grasp on Stand? It is vital to keep in mind that we’re all a part of the identical crew and to keep away from limiting ourselves by such attachments.
The Stoic Strategy:
Stoicism is all about being an honest human being. Fashionable stoics like Ryan Vacation search to use this historical philosophy in right this moment’s world. They emphasize that virtues like knowledge, braveness, justice, and advantage are important for a contented life.
For us as deer hunters, stoicism is usually a game-changer. That is particularly the case as non-hunters vastly outnumber us and are attempting to eradicate looking as we all know on the polls. As an alternative of getting caught up in infighting amonst ourselves about which truck, looking model, or gear is healthier, we have to work collectively. As an alternative of changing into obsessive about a specific ideology, stoicism encourages folks to domesticate an id rooted in virtues that transcend exterior components, like bodily possessions or political affiliations. The second anybody says they know all the pieces about deer looking, they ought to hold up their bow <– That is a set mindset, not an open one. In case your id is just too intently tied to exterior issues, there is a good probability you are closed off to studying new techniques or concepts that would stand to enhance your success within the deer woods. One in every of our strenghts as human beings is the flexibility to vary our thoughts, or opinion. If we’re not prepared to try this infrequently, we’re certain to repeat the identical ol’ issues getting the identical ol’ outcomes. I consider that is the definition of madness, is not it?
Within the “The Each day Stoic,” Ryan Vacation emphasizes the importance of specializing in what’s inside our management. We as hunters can channel this perception by centering our id on virtues like resilience, empathy, and humility. As a lot as we might prefer to assume, we have now much less management over the success of a hunt than we might prefer to admit – heck, I might take good luck any day of the week to extend my odds at a shooter buck! When that neighbor or unfortunate driver kills the goal buck you have been after, it could not be extra out of your management. You possibly can at all times management your response. Tying your id to killing deer that will discover different methods to win a Darwin award for dying might show to be an train in futility. Slightly, tying it to your response to issues exterior of management, as long as that response is sweet and sort creates actual legacy.
Untying the Knot: Welcoming Intrinsic Advantage
To untie one’s id from exterior components, we will begin by reflecting on our core values and virtues as deer hunters. Fred Bear stated, “Immerse your self within the outside expertise. It is going to cleanse your soul and make you a greater individual.” I do not assume anybody remembers or cares what truck Fred Bear drove, or what stand he hunted out of, or what camo he wore. Marcus Aurelius, the thinker king and Roman Emperor, as soon as stated, “Little or no is required to make a contented life; it’s all inside your self, in your mind-set.” I might say the identical is true about getting exterior, into the deer woods and having fun with each minute of the hunt. While you’re within the woods chasing whitetails, who tagged what model in what automobile, carrying no matter fad model of camo could not be (or must be) furthest out of your ideas.
Slightly than relying solely on the pleasure related to the latest 12 months mannequin truck or a perfect looking file of getting killed a number of mature bucks over the previous few years, we will discover success by aligning our id with the pursuit of the hunt and doing what’s proper and good. This includes embodying qualities like kindness, empathy, and integrity, fostering connections with others based mostly on shared humanity reasonably than superficial markers and bragging boards.
Okayest Hunter: A Beacon of Humility and Relatability
Within the quest to redefine the id disaster inside the looking neighborhood, the Okayest Hunter strives to face out by prioritizing intrinsic worth, kindness, and humility over superficial accolades. We’ve got an unwavering dedication to reshaping the looking narrative and to boldly emphasize the inherent goodness derived from the looking expertise.
Okayest Hunter was impressed by rules of humility and authenticity. We encourage hunters to embrace the imperfections that include pursuing their ardour. By adopting a lighthearted method, our perception challenges the standard notions of toughness and bravado usually related to killing mature bucks. In fact, do not mistake kindness for weak point – we simply need to do what Gary Vaynerchuk preaches and construct a honey empire, not one comprised of vinegar. Okayest Hunter seeks to shift the main focus from exterior markers, like the scale of a trophy or the most recent gear, to the intrinsic worth of the experiences and connections solid in the course of the looking journey; looking is, actually a journey and we’re all at totally different levels inside it.
The ethos of Okayest Hunter appears to inherently align with stoic rules. Humility is obvious in our acknowledgment that perfection shouldn’t be the aim however reasonably the continuous pursuit of enchancment and self-awareness each within the discipline and within the throws of the looking neighborhood inside social media. By embracing the “okayest” side of looking, we encourage you to search out pleasure and success within the studying course of and the shared camaraderie with different hunters, no matter the place they’re at of their looking journey.
In doing so, I hope the Okayest Hunter model can remodel the looking neighborhood into an area the place we derive success from the intrinsic goodness from the hunt itself.
Suppose we will transfer past the restrictions of exterior attachments and embrace humility, kindness, and intrinsic worth. In that case, we will contribute to the evolution of a looking neighborhood grounded in authenticity, shared humanity, and a dedication to the inherent goodness of the looking expertise as we proceed to go the torch to the subsequent era.
