Setting Your Mindset

Mindset is most important! Your brain is the best weapon you have. Remember our goal is to avoid danger.

There are 4 stages you will move through as you learn this course and continue on in your journey of self-reliance for your safety.

1. Vulnerable = In starting out, you might be feeling a bit vulnerable and helpless. You’ll learn how to be aware of your surroundings, how to predict danger, what distraction questions criminals approach you with, and how to avoid becoming a victim.
2. Informed = After finishing Module 1 and getting into Module 2, you’ll be surprised there are so many things you can do to prevent violence and feel more educated and enlightened. You’ll learn how to stay safe while driving and especially in danger areas (like parking garages…), how to travel safely, what to do if followed, etc.
3. Aware = After finishing Module 2 and getting into Mod 3, you’ll start to feel safety savvy and ready. You’ll then learn how to heed different levels of danger, how to make criminals unwelcome, how to keep your property safe, etc.
4. Prepared = After Mod 3 and getting into Mod 4, you’ll start to feel confident and empowered with all you’re gaining. You’ll learn how to keep the kids in your life safe, how to teach and heed boundaries, and resources to help friends and family in dangerous situations.

Overall, we move the safety bubble around ourselves, out to our property and onto those we love most.

On our way to transforming from vulnerable to confident, please familiarize yourself with the O.O.D.A Loop. This concept, a decision cycle of noticing, deciding and acting, was derived by Col. John Boyd (picture courtesy of the U.S. Govt.).

Col. Boyd was an Air Force fighter pilot and military strategist that worked at the Pentagon and served in 3 wars.

1. O. OBSERVE = Trust your instincts (pay attention to your senses: smell, sight, listen, touch)
2. O. ORIENT = Most important to figure out what everything means with analyzing it using your experience and awareness
3. D. DECIDE = Based on input and analysis – if he does ____, then I will ____.
4. A. ACT = Acting out your decision. Final step with speed and surprise.

This is how you adapt and survive by learning how to anticipate situations (making a decision quickly and acting). Please see the example below.

Example:

Let’s say you pull up to a gas station. You are by yourself. You get out of your car because it appears safe. You start pumping gas and a man comes out of nowhere.

(OBSERVE & ORIENT) You notice him. He starts to approach you.

(DECIDE) You hold up your hand and (with the other hand grab your pepper spray, flashlight, or even the gas nozzle to spray gas) and firmly say, “Stop right there.” Know in your mind: 1. If he keeps coming, you’ll either jump back in your car, lock your door, and start honking the horn OR you’ll pull out your aforementioned weapon and get ready to use it. (Ideally, get back in your car and lock the door but if he’s too close, then you’ll have to be ready to fight.) Turns out he decides he’d rather deal with someone who isn’t assertive and turns around to walk away.

(ACT) You get back in your car and lock the door. Call for help. (He may come back or there might be a friend of his around.) Always trust your gut. Better to play it safe.

In the next section, we will learn about spotting a potential threat and 3 distractions criminals use.

Go ahead and take the quiz below. Good luck!