Does your personal safety mean everything to you? If it does, self-defense planning cannot be quick and easy. Developing and using the steps listed below may ensure a healthier and safer you in the future.

Step 1: Use your intelligence.

Safety and security is a primary need for all of us. Your brain is the most powerful self-defense weapon you have. Surviving with intelligence is developing your knowledge, intuition, awareness, and assessment skills of violent situations. This will take time, but knowing how to recognize the violence of others, and within yourself, is a basic building block of a successful self-defense strategy. You will be able to avoid or respond to violence more effectively.

Step 2: Psychology of Self-Defense.

When you think about the violence in the world today, the possibility of becoming a victim is an upsetting thought. You must learn to manage and control your fear or that fear will eat away at your ability to defend yourself. Your quality of life will corrode as your confidence in your ability to take care of yourself slowly fades away. Being safety conscious does not mean being fearful, paranoid, or afraid to leave your home. You can strengthen your confidence through self-defense knowledge and skill development to develop a strong sense of well-being and security. Your thoughts of helplessness will erode as you develop greater quality and health in your life. Your positive self-esteem will increase and you will be able to develop response tactics that will be effective.

Step 3: Predatory Behavior Recognition.

How do you know if another person is a predator? This person could look like a "normal" person to you or anyone else. Their behavior is what sets them apart.

People communicate verbally and non-verbally. When a person talks to you you usually know and understand what is going to happen or what they are saying. Non-verbal communication is comprised of behaviors. A punch in the face is much different than a pat on the back.

Some predators are very methodical in how they practice and others give no thought to how they go about their business. When you begin to understand how a predator makes his/her selection of a victim and their attack methods, you will be in a better position to recognize and avoid them.

Step 4: Victim Selection Recognition.

Not everyone will become a victim of crime. For every person who is victimized, dozens of people are passed over. Why? There is a victim selection process and you must understand this. Each person who becomes a victim is evaluated by certain criteria and may or may not become a "desirable target."

You can disrupt and influence this process by becoming knowledgeable and trained in self-defense. When you become trained in effective self-defense your knowledge and skills will become enhanced. Your awareness of your surroundings will be greater, lessening the probability that you will become a victim because you will be sending a message to predators that you will not be an easy target. Therefore, the predator will, more than likely, look elsewhere for a victim.

Step 5: Your Response Options.

It is extremely dangerous and negligent for me to imply that there is a single solution to all threatening situations. You do have a range of responses available to you; the situation and circumstances dictate which response is more appropriate.

How far you go with your responses is totally dependent upon you. Will you be excessive in your response? Will you go beyond your legal right to defend yourself? These are questions that must be answered. How much force must you use to defend yourself? Any self-defense training program should discuss your legal right to defend yourself and how to respond to violence appropriately. They must also discuss how to justify your actions.

Normally there are five ways to respond to a confrontational situation. These are:

Compliance: You can do whatever the attacker wants you to do.

Escape: You can escape from the situation to safety.

De-escalation: You can work to de-escalate the situation and end the confrontation.

Assertiveness: You can be assertive and stop the confrontation.

Fight back: You can fight with the aggressive violent person.

Whatever response you select will really depend on the situation and circumstances. You will need to become knowledgeable in each area and use the appropriate response when necessary or applicable.

Step 6: Training

Competency is the combination of your physical, mental, and psychological training and abilities. The skills you learn and your attitude to use them wisely will work to enhance your self-defense and safety. Consistently incorporating your skills to develop effective safety habits will affect your health and well-being.

If you elect to take a self-defense training class, understand that much of what you learn will be forgotten if you do not practice what you learned on a consistent regular basis.

When you incorporate effective safety habits into your daily life you will create a safer you. You will learn how to manage your fear, stress, and anxiety and reduce your potential to become a victim.

Step 7: Prevention = Your Safety.

Everyone has prevention tips and ideas for you. These do's and don'ts can be in the hundreds. Many are simple and can reduce the likelihood of you becoming a victim.

You will not remember them all and you don't need to. Using your "common sense" and understanding the basics of self-defense protection will allow you to develop a deeper sense of safety and security. You just need to incorporate whatever tips you want into your life and apply them when you feel comfortable with them.

Conclusion:

In the end you must decide what is best for you. Learn how to use your intelligence and understand the psychology of self-defense. Begin to understand what predatory behaviors are and how a predator selects victims. Learn your response options well and train for them. You will be able to use the safety tips you learn and enhance your well-being and lifestyle.

Remember: There is no single solution to all threatening situations. You may or may not want to get the law enforcement people involved; the decision is yours, as is the consequences of your behavior.