Win the Fight for Your Life – Part 1
Win the Fight for Your Life! Have you ever thought about what it takes to win such a fight? Some might say this is a ridiculous question. However, I strongly disagree. We cannot prepare for what we do not think about. No one wants to have their life on the line, but it is a real possibility we all must face.
Now, you may be thinking, “I am not that kind of person,” or perhaps, “I don’t do dangerous work.” These thoughts provide reassurance to those who choose not to see the world as it truly is. Consider this: How many people have died because of the church they attended or the mall they went to? Do you believe any of these victims woke up that fateful day thinking about the threats they would soon face?
Time to Face Reality
The world around you can be a violent place. To combat such violence, you must be prepared. Ask yourself a few questions: First, have you considered who your attacker or attackers might be? Second, where could these attacks take place? Third, what are you willing to do to protect yourself and others? Lastly, what steps have you taken to prepare for what you believe you are willing to do?
On the other hand, some people will tell you that the police are there to keep you safe. I know firsthand that the police want to protect you when they are present. However, there is a lot of truth in the saying, “When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.” Most of the time, police officers respond to requests for help, but it is rare for them to be in the right place at the right time. Don’t get me wrong; it happens but is rare.
Consequently, your personal safety is your responsibility. Therefore, winning the fight for your life requires awareness, planning, and training. That’s right! It will demand a level of commitment and effort from you. Consider one of my favorite quotes from Tony Robbins: “It’s not what you can do, but what you will do that makes the difference.” I know you can achieve these things. The question is, will you?
Let’s take a moment to explore some critical elements that empower you to win the fight for your life.
Awareness
Certainly, one of the most critical components of personal safety is your level of awareness. This includes situational, environmental, and interpersonal awareness. In other words, you must learn to recognize locations, situations, and people that potentially threaten your safety. Let
me be clear: I do not want you to become paranoid; I want you to be highly aware. There is a difference.
I want you to understand how your environment and the people within it affect your safety. This is something I know you can achieve. You just need to sharpen your skills to a razor’s edge. Right now, you might be wondering how I can be so certain you can do this. Ask yourself this: Have you ever encountered something related to a person or a place and later thought, “I knew something was off about that guy or that place”? I am confident you have.
That is an example of how your personal awareness sends you a message about potential threats. For example, you might describe this sensation as the hairs on the back of your neck standing up. Likewise, others may say it feels like a little voice in the back of their head that speaks to them. No matter how you describe it, it serves as a survival mechanism that God has gifted to each of us.
The real question is, did you listen or choose to ignore that internal messaging? Consider things like where you park, the lighting in the area, and how populated it is. Learn to recognize the signals communicated through body language, interpersonal communication norms, and distraction techniques intended to lower your guard.
In part two of Win the Fight for Your Life, we will discuss the value of planning and training for winning the fight for your life.