Integrating Self Defense with Your Quality of Life

Once you start to seriously consider owning a self defense product or otherwise preparing yourself for self protection it’s easy to get caught by fear. It’s a dangerous world out there, especially in economic times that have left so many people desperate. But the worst thing you can do is be paranoid. I run Self Defense ATL a little differently from other self defense product retailers because I believe self defense should be about improving an average person’s quality of life. According to that philosophy preparedness should help you feel happier, not more fearful. Let’s look at two common pitfalls in self defense attitudes and how you can turn them around into positive opportunities.

Alertness, Not Fear

Awareness of your surroundings and the people near you is a key part of successful self-defense, but many people explore alertness as a kind of constant, low-level fear. That’s not good for your mental health. In fact, getting caught up in asking yourself whether someone you see is a potential mugger or other threat can actually blind you, because you get absorbed in that one person.

Approach alertness with a positive attitude: one where you want to experience more of what surrounds you. When I go hiking I like to look at each sight as it comes, appreciate it and move on, stopping only for something that sets off my interest. You can take the same attitude toward being aware of your surroundings in everyday life. Focus on things which set off alarm bells and don’t look quite right when you see them, but for the most part, just note the things and people around you and move on.

Preparedness, Not Tension

You might respond with this: “I can be aware of my surroundings without being paranoid, but why would you carry a TASER or stun gun without feeling that way?” That’s a good question. The answer? Preparedness is about prudence, not being tensely afraid that something bad will happen to you. You already exercise prudence in your daily life, in a thousand different ways that don’t make you frightened of anything. You lock your car and home; look both ways before crossing the street and keep a flashlight on your keychain in case you have to look for anything in the dark. You carry an umbrella if it looks like it’s going to rain.

Treat your C2 TASER, cell phone stun gun or other self defense product like that umbrella, flashlight or car key: just another precaution you take to reduce your worries, not increase them. Carrying a stun gun may make you feel self-conscious and tense at first. This is only natural, because carrying a TASER, pepper spray or stun gun requires a certain amount of maturity. The secret is to become familiar with your self defense products. Read manuals thoroughly. Practice with them. Learn techniques that help you use them effectively. Once handling them becomes routine, they’ll become normal parts of your daily gear, ready when you need them, but never a burden.