Have you ever watched a martial arts movie where the hero, or the hero’s mentor just KNOWS that someone is approaching that any other person would have missed? Or perhaps you’ve seen a cop movie where the veteran walks down the street and pauses just before the alleyway where there’s an ambush waiting for him?
In most of these movies, and in real life, there’s nothing supernatural about the effect. The martial artist has simply developed a different sense of perception. The policeman’s experiences have become distilled into intuition.
Danger Avoidance for Ordinary People
This is a state of mind that most of us will never approach, but we can increase our awareness of and change how we are perceived in dangerous situations by thinking like a black belt. The term is from Lori Hoeck’s blog of the same name – Think Like a Black Belt.
Her very practical focus is on self defense and the blog includes posts and picture on things like doing a key jab or escaping a hold. But much of it is about the philosophy and mindset of not being in denial about potential danger, but rather being ready to take action instead of freezing, folding, or being victimized in other ways.
Be Perceived as Confidant and Aware
Much of not being selected as a victim is about how much trouble a potential predator thinks you’ll be. This is not to say that it is ever any one’s fault for being chosen, only that you can reduce your chances if you don’t present yourself as prey.
One specific post about how to use other’s perceptions to protect yourself compares strong and weak body language.
Actually BE Aware and Alert
You don’t need to be looking for danger around every turn, but you should recognize the patterns that are usually in place during your day and notice when they are disrupted. There’s a sense of developing and listening to the intuition and that still small voice. It might be on the street or it could be in a situation that’s become normal but shouldn’t have.
Read more about seeing patterns early and about attempts at desensitization.
Consider Their Reality Might Not Be Your Reality
One theme that Hoeck returns to repeatedly is that of emotional danger and people who care only about themselves, even if they don’t recognize or admit it. She provides understanding of that perspective and how to react to it as well.
For example, she identifies key traits of narcissists and gives some basic principle for defending your core self.
Awareness Isn’t Only About Self-Defense
If we can bring ourselves to be more aware of the world around us, to actually observe instead of pass things by, we can see improvement in our ability to make connections for creative and problem-solving purposes and better understand others’ perspectives. I wouldn’t call this easy. I have a tendency to block things out when I have a specific issue on my mind. But I’m trying.
What do you do to try to increase your awareness, or do you deliberately not do so? Have you seen benefits one way or the other?
