When your life is in jeopardy, nothing else matters.
Personal safety is not a topic I see many bloggers writing about, yet it’s one that’s vital to our well-being. Simply put, our health and safety form the foundation for everything else we do. Maintaining this foundation must come before wealth, success, happiness, and almost every other aspect of self-improvement and personal growth.
As you might expect, preparation is the key. Often there are many simple habits and observations a victim could have followed to prevent their becoming a victim. And sadly, in many cases, these simple habits and observations could have saved their lives.
Remember, there’s a big difference between being scared and being prepared. I am not saying, nor would I ever suggest, that you live so cautiously that you scare yourself out of trying new things and seeing new places. I am simply suggesting that, like a Boy Scout, you adequately prepare yourself before doing so.
1. Let someone know where you will be.
When you live alone, or even when you go out for the night, let a friend know where you will be. This barely takes any effort on your part, and if something does go wrong or you are not back in the morning, somebody will know where to start if they have to look for you.
2. Keep doors and windows locked.
I am always amazed at people who leave all the entryways to their house wide open when they are home, let alone when they go to sleep at night. Although it’s nice to believe that nobody would violate your space while you’re in it, there are, unfortunately, a lot of bad people in the world who would love to take advantage of your naïve, overly trusting habits. Why risk being robbed or attacked in your own home when all you have to do is adopt the habit of locking your door after you go through it?
3. Have an exit strategy.
Do you know exactly what you would do if you woke up to a raging fire in your house? What if there was a sudden earthquake? What if you were driving on a dark country road and you realized someone suspicious was clearly following you? By going over these scenarios in your head, you can come up with plans and strategies to mitigate the inherent dangers. The more you think and plan now, the less thinking and planning you’ll need to do in a moment’s notice.
4. Always be prepared for the unexpected.
Never, ever be so humble as to think that something cannot happen to you. There are simple things you can do to prepare for unfortunate events. For example, keep your cell phone charged and always have some credits available for an emergency call when needed. Keep some spare money in a hidden place (in your car?), in case you are robbed or lose your wallet. Program emergency phone numbers into your phone, because when you’re in shock or in a panic, you will not always be able to think straight.
5. Learn a martial art.
Physical confrontation is always a last resort, but if push comes to shove, you better be able to defend yourself. I suggest Muay Thai for guys and Aikido for girls. Besides the fact that they are both good forms of self-defense, they are also fun ways to exercise. This (and this) is an awesome guide for simple and effective self-defense. You do not need to study martial arts for years to learn and apply some decent self-defense moves. More often than not, the assailant will be male. Attack the weak spots on his body: the eyes, nose, throat, solar plexus, groin, knees, etc. A well-aimed strike or blow to one of these areas can instantly neutralize the attacker.
