Personal safety 101: Do you practice these self-protection habits?

The world can be a scary place, but constantly hiding in fear isn’t a good way to live. To protect yourself from those who may wish to do you harm, value yourself, and learn self-defense. (h/t to ModernSurvivalOnline.com)

Mindset and attitude are key to self-protection

If you don’t care about yourself, why would you bother learning different ways to defend yourself from a potential attacker? The points detailed below will help you understand the important link between self-worth, presence of mind when faced with danger, and personal safety.

Build your self-worth and learn how to protect yourself.

Self-worth is the psychological foundation of self-protection. People who don’t value themselves and don’t have the will to protect themselves may be easy to victimize.

If you have experienced abuse, don’t fall into the mindset that you deserve what happened to you. You are worth protecting, and you can build your self-worth by consulting a therapist or joining confidence-building activities.

Practice self-care, and spend time with people who treat you well. Never tolerate abuse and mistreatment from anyone.

Practice situational awareness and listen to your intuition.

Listen to your gut. If alarm bells are going off in your head, get out of wherever you are or stay away from someone who seems suspicious. If you’re wrong, you may feel a little embarrassed. But what’s embarrassment compared to getting hurt because you didn’t want to look weird or seem rude?

Situational awareness, which is the ability to identify, process, and comprehend information about how to survive in an emergency situation, is incredibly useful for self-defense. Don’t zone out on your phone, especially in a public place. Observe the people around you, and take note of possible exits.

Don’t show fear or doubt.

Even if you’re terrified on the inside, don’t let your fear show on your face or body language. Some predators are drawn to weakness, so don’t make things easier from people who may take advantage of you.

Try to be unpredictable.

Some burglars observe their targets before they strike. Try different routes to go to school or work, or get your groceries from different stores on different days.

Don’t be nosy.

This ties into the importance of situational awareness. If you pay attention to your surroundings, you would notice the first sign of danger and you could take measures to avoid them. Keep to yourself and don’t engage in a pointless argument that may turn into a violent confrontation at the drop of a hat.

This may seem weird, but don’t stare at other people too much. Individuals who are very sensitive, emotionally unstable, or on addictive substances may consider this a challenge and start a fight with you.

Self-defense tips and habits

Here are some habits that will keep you safe on a daily basis.

• Always lock your windows and doors when you leave your home. Even if your neighborhood seems safe, don’t leave your door unlocked. You might as well invite thieves inside your house if you practice this dangerous habit.
• Be presentable and self-confident. If your demeanor is unsure and your surroundings are cluttered and disorganized, predators could take it as a sign that you are an easy target because you couldn’t be bothered to look after yourself. Your appearance may reflect lower socio-economic status or addiction, and predators consider these as signs that you could be easily victimized. Always carry yourself with confidence.
• Park your vehicle front end out, backing into the parking space. If you need to escape on your car, you won’t have to waste time backing out of a parking lot.
• Be wary of strangers. If a stranger approaches you, pay attention to their hands, which could be concealing a weapon. If they’re just asking for directions, answer them then go on your way. If they seem suspicious, don’t engage.
• Don’t sit with your back to the door. Whether you’re in your home or at a restaurant, stay in a seat that gives you the best view of the whole area. If possible, sit near an exit. Look at the other people around you, and if they seem uneasy or hostile, be on your guard.
• Learn self-defense, or choose a self-defense weapon and learn how to use it well. The goal here isn’t to pick fights, but to learn how to defend yourself when SHTF. (Related: Why more women are joining gun clubs to learn self-defense skills.)

Build your self-worth, practice situational awareness, and learn self-defense so you know what to do if you’re forced to face an attacker.

Sources include:

ModernSurvivalOnline.com

BeSurvival.com