When we are faced with a self-defense situation, there are three battles we must win to be successful. They are the Mental (which also includes emotional), Physical and Legal. In this, the first installment in our three-part series, we will discuss the Mental Battle.
From childhood, we are taught that, to be a great athlete, a great student, or successful businessperson, we must mentally prepare ourselves. In business, this is done by learning and absorbing information published and passed on by other successful people in our chosen field, and by mentors. We take this information and file it so that we can recall it when it's needed. When we are faced with a need, we simply recall the information, process it, and use it to successfully reach our goal. The more we learn and process the correct information, the quicker we are able to recall it, making our chances of success greater.
In self-defense, the same principles apply.
There are limitless scenarios we could be faced with every time we leave the house or office. If we go blindly about our daily routines and are faced with a sudden and potentially violent situation, we are less likely to be prepared to defend ourselves. When faced with such situations, we may be caught off guard and freeze or, possibly worse, overreact.
Many victims of violent crime have said they felt as if it just wasn't real, or they just didn't remember anything, or worse, they were frozen and couldn't do anything, having to live through it helplessly. However, there are ways to mentally prepare yourself for most situations you could encounter.
The first portion of the battle is the decision whether you are capable of defending yourself, using whatever means necessary. Defending yourself is not a pretty thing. It may mean being capable of inflicting raw violence upon another human being. Many of us are not accustomed to the thought of this and, if faced with this possibility, are not capable of doing what it takes to survive.
Preparing oneself mentally to fight and survive is an ongoing process.
Through mental preparation, we can win the battle before it ever starts. It's been said that the mental aspect is more than half the battle. We can avoid entering into a conflict by using Situational Awareness. This is a mental discipline which hones our senses to pay attention to our surroundings and recognize potential threats before they happen. Proper use of this technique can prevent many potentially dangerous situations.
Another important technique which can be used in self-defense is the "What if?" technique. Many of our students will remember being told to "What if?" every situation. When pulling into a gas station you observe someone suspicious (using situational awareness) and ask yourself "What if that guy tries to rob me at the pumps?". You form a plan of action just in case. If he doesn't approach you, then you file the "What if?" information away for future use. However, if he does confront you, you are a step ahead because you have mentally prepared yourself for a potential confrontation. You have thought of non-lethal and lethal methods of defending yourself, each depending on the tactics of your foe.
Another scenario could be a carjacking at a traffic light. These types of carjackings are getting to be commonplace. In your "What if?" situation you have decided, according to the actions of the bad guy, whether you are going to give up your vehicle and how, or whether you are going to fight for the vehicle or safety of your occupants.
Whatever course of action you take, you will face the legal system. We will discuss this later; however, understand that you will need an attorney to navigate you through the system.
I've included a link below for you to look at a program that will prove invaluable when negotiating the legal system. This association will navigate you through the legal system and, since this is not an insurance, there is no deductible, no copayment, no underwriting and no upfront costs. There is also no maximum. You owe it to yourself and your family to at least check out this program. BTW, you can add children in your household under 18, spouse or significant other if they're in the household also. Additionally, if you are a LEO, Security Officer or Corrections Officer, this will cover you on or off duty.
Here is the link:
Next article we will cover the Physical Battle of Self Defense and the Emotional aftermath.
Respectfully,
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