THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO TO START MAKING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFER
When you read the title above, what did you think of?
Taking a self-defense class?
Buying pepper spray?
Buying a gun?
Learning how to shoot?
These are all options, but not the best place to start. From my experience, the most important thing you can do is adopt the correct mindset and take responsibility for you and your family’s safety.
Mindset
When we say “mindset” what are we talking about? We are talking about your attitudes, your preconceived ideas about things. In this case, we are talking about your attitudes towards safety, self-defense, and awareness. Not only yours, but more importantly, your family’s safety and well-being.
I am sure a lot of you have already thought about this, and I’m sure a lot of you already have a good mindset. For those of you that don’t, let’s talk about it. For those of you who do, keep reading and maybe you will pick up a little nugget of information you have never thought about.
Your Responsibility
For me, the most important part of mindset, as it relates to safety and self-defense, is to realize that YOU are responsible. No one else, YOU. Not your husband, not your wife, not your buddy, not even a police officer. You are responsible for your own safety. You are responsible for the safety of your family, your loved ones.
This is the first step. The building block you need to move forward. Without taking on this responsibility and fully embracing it, you will never be able to get where you need to be.
Why?
What does having the correct mindset do for you and why is it important? The correct mindset allows you to prepare for the unknown. It gives you the mentality to be aware, to recognize things, to avoid things, to WIN.
Having the correct mindset cuts a step out of the decision making process. If my mindset is “it will never happen to me” or “someone else will take care of it” that puts me behind the curve, if and when something does happen. This can apply to various situations as well. I’m not just talking about the crazed shooter in the mall.
For you ladies reading this, I am talking about the creepy guy walking your direction as you just got out of your car with your children at the store. For you seasoned ones out there, I’m talking about the fight of your life, literally.
My mindset is one of awareness, realism, and confidence. I am aware of where I am going and what is around me. I am realistic to know how the world is and what events are possible.
Lastly, I am confident in my abilities and the work I have put in on the front end. I’ve been involved in and seen more things than I care to remember, and that number still doesn’t even compare to the number of scenarios I have ran through my head. By no means do I want bad things to happen, but what worries me more is the thought of not being prepared when it does.
Having the correct mindset and accepting responsibility for you and your family’s safety is just the beginning. It will get you headed in the right direction. In my opinion it is not an option. From a self-defense and safety point of view, mindset comes first. It is the foundation.
So, what do you think?
Are you willing to accept this responsibility? Once you realize your safety and your family’s safety is in your hands you can start moving forward. Now what does that look like?
For me it would be to seek knowledge, to seek training, to visualize and think about scenarios….I could go on and on, but we can save that for the next piece.
Stay safe and prepared.
