Have you ever thought about how you would attack … you? Where are you most vulnerable? In the house, with family, at work, in your car, or with multiple distractions outside the home? Have you thought about what you would do if you were targeted by a criminal when you were alone or … if you were surrounded by loved ones? My guess is that they may be different answers.
Many years ago, before I started really thinking about how to adapt to different self-defense situations, I would picture scenarios in my mind and prepare on how best to react. I remember thinking if someone broke into my house I would respond with “X.” If someone tried to steal my car at a gas station, I would respond with “Y.” If someone tried to steal my purse I would respond with “Z.” I thought I was ahead of the game, but when I look back, that may not have been the case if I was not open to change.
Yes, if the real event went down exactly like I imagined, then I may have responded perfectly, but reality tells a different story. Each day is filled with wonder, hidden events, curveballs, surprises and challenges that we may have never thought about.
What if the real-life event was not the way I rehearsed in my mind? What if I only mentally rehearsed one way? What if they broke into my house through the front door and not the basement, like I imagined? What if someone tried to steal my car with me and my grandchildren in it? What if someone grabbed my purse and I was carrying my gun off-body that day? No matter how much we try to prepare, we need to expect the unexpected.
I hate to say it, but most self-defense situations that might arise do not meet our preplanned expectations. But do not fret, you can program your brain to respond and not react. No, they are not the same thing.
Now let’s take the familiar location and expectations out of it and focus on the situation right in front of us. We are still going to use the lessons learned from when we played the “What If” game and use the mental rehearsals in our favor but we will apply the knowledge to the unique situation unfolding in front of us.
You are driving and need to use the restroom, so you pull over at a gas station. It is 96 degrees outside so you leave the car running and tell your grandkids you will be right back and to lock the doors after you get out. You are back in 5 minutes and see someone standing by the driver’s side door and reaching for the handle. You are on alert, but you know it is locked … or, is it? You need to consider your options QUICKLY and EXPLOSIVELY!
I have played the scenario over and over in my mind, that if someone wants to steal my car, I always walk away and just let the bad person have it. It is an object and there is nothing in it that is worth my life. But that scenario has just been changed and now my grandkids are in the car so my response must be morphed to fit exactly what is happening now. To me, there is something in the car that is worth fighting for so let’s rehearse that.
Our goal is to see, respond and then act, not to react. With an “it” could happen anywhere mindset, staying alert, training under stress, practicing mental rehearsals and trusting your instincts, you have a much higher chance of responding to a problem and not reacting to one.
Visit Shelley Hill and learn more about The Complete Combatant.
Shelley Hill wears a "bunch of hats." Her husband, Brian, named her the “Indispensable Organization Wizard” about 25 years ago and that has become her official title. Shelley is the CEO and instructor at The Complete Combatant. She is an HK Brand Ambassador, publishes regular articles in Women’s Outdoor News and Shooting Illustrated, teaches online classes, is an Active Self Protection Certified Instructor, an Instructor Graduate of Modern Samurai Project's Red Dot Instructor program, NRA Certified Instructor, Certified NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Refuse to be a Victim Instructor and is a Certified OC (Pepper Spray) Instructor through Chuck Haggard's Agile Training & Consulting. She is the designer and mastermind behind Image Based Decisional Drills, Smart Choices , LockedIn Grip, The Complete Combatant's annual The Mingle for professional ladies in the "firearms/self defense" industry and The Quest for red dot shooters. She is also the President of a non-profit organization called Blue Line Ponies. This 501c3 focuses on providing a retirement range for our career service horses. Shelley is also a presenter at several national conferences is a public speaker and she actually loves people. View all posts by Shelley Hill
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