Imagine this: you arrive in a city where the streets twist like mazes, the signs are written in a language you barely know, and even the rhythm of footsteps around you feels foreign. The campus or workplace looms large, populated by strangers who seem to understand codes you don’t. You have little money, few friends, and no shortcuts. Every day is a test.
This is your wilderness.
So, what does that wilderness teach us about thriving in a new land, place or work?
- Get Your Identity Right
The first temptation: “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” Hunger bites hard, but Jesus refused to prove himself through shortcuts.
For immigrants, hunger can mean many things—lack of money, status, or acceptance. The temptation is to disguise who you are, to bend yourself into someone else’s mould. But your true strength lies in identity. Nationality is just the surface; your deeper identity is your values and skills.
Reflection: Am I making choices based on my values, or am I just scrambling to survive? - Priority Matters: Prioritise What Truly Matters
Hunger is a universal and real issue. In 2025, 2.83 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet (AAH, 2025). How do you prioritize when you are hungry in the wilderness? Chose purpose over instant relief.
Purpose-driven prioritization is the secret: learn the language, build networks, and invest in your growth. Focus on what moves you forward.
Reflection: Do my daily actions lead to long-term progress or just temporary comfort? - Think It Through: Count the Consequences, Before you Jump
The second temptation: “Jump from the temple
Angela will catch you.” Reckless risks glitter like quick success – fast money schemes, risky jobs, and too-good-to-be-true offers. Never take an impulsive action.
Reflection: Are my decisions guided by fear and urgency or by careful thought? - Make Integrity Your Currency
The third temptation: “Bow to me, and all the kingdoms will be yours.” Remember, trust and integrity are the currencies in which you trade (Iannarino, 2028).
Reflection: Will I sacrifice my values for quick gain, or am I investing in a longer game? - Prepare, Adapt, and Endure
The wilderness was not a punishment—it was preparation.
Remember, a key step in adaptation is recognising that there is something new (Schwartz, 2024).
Reflection: What am I doing today to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges? - Make the Most of What You Have
Hunger in the wilderness is real. To thrive requires optimisation – see abundance in your limited resources: education, skills, meaningful connections.
Reflection: Am I investing resources in distractions or in my future? - Build Resilience Through Consistency
A young street artist named Maya painted every morning, even when uninspired. Her work was messy at first, but daily consistency turned her into a master.
That is resilience – small, steady actions despite obstacles. Resilience is not dramatic; it is consistent.
Reflection: Do I let challenges break me, or do I use them to grow stronger?
Your Wilderness, Your Growth
The wilderness is not the end. It is the beginning.
References
Action Against Hunger (2025): World Hunger Facts. https://www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk/why-hunger/world-hunger-facts Accessed August, 2025
de-Juan-Ripoll, C., Chicchi Giglioli, I. A., Llanes-Jurado, J., Marín-Morales, J., & Alcañiz, M. (2021). Why Do We Take Risks? Perception of the Situation and Risk Proneness Predict Domain-Specific Risk Taking. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 562381. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.562381
Iannarino Anthony (2018). Trust and Integrity are the Currencies in which you trade. https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/trust-integrity-currency-trade
Schwartz, D. L. (2024). Achieving an adaptive learner. Educational Psychologist, 60(1), 7–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2024.2397389
McKelvey, F., & Neves, J. (2021). Introduction: optimization and its discontents. Review of Communication, 21(2), 95–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/15358593.2021.1936143
CIC Support, 2025. Building Resilience. https://www.reading.ac.uk/human-resources/-/media/project/functions/human-resources/documents/cic-24building-resilience-information-sheet.pdf?
American Psychological Association (2020). Building Your Resilience. https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience/building-your-resilience
