Your Most Valuable Asset
Intuitive Awareness - The Alert Mindset
Years ago I read a report that was authored by a couple of guys from the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit. The article dealt with people's ability to survive an attack. In it, the authors mentioned several ways people have dealt with violent confrontations.
Chemical sprays, knives, sounding devices, guns, and even self-defense techniques/training were discussed. But the one "tool", from their studies, that had the most effect in self-protection was... being alert and aware.
Sounds like an over-simplification, doesn't it? But really it's not.
What Does "Being Alert" Do For Us?
It has been long promoted through Tulsa's Citizen Crime Commission (now known as Crime Commission OK ) that being alert is your most valuable asset. Being alert does two things for us.
1. Makes us "look" less like a victim
2. Buys us time to employ "options", if we see a potential problem
The 3rd Thing
Being alert does a third thing for us that is not so widely discussed. It is an exercise in learning "intuitive awareness". Funny as it may sound, "being alert" trains us on what "normal" looks like.
At first, that sounds a bit simplistic, but in reality, when you're alert, and you're scanning your environment... most of the time, nothing in particular is going on. Do that a lot and you get a lot of education on what "normal" looks like.
Then, when something suspicious occurs, it stands out. It's like a big flag demanding your attention. You may not know "why" it's suspicious, but for some reason, it doesn't "fit in".
How To Be Alert
It's easy to say, "Be alert!" But doing that means giving up something. Fortunately, what we "give up", in most cases, will probably not hurt us. Many times, it's actually good for us.
What we give up is...the luxury of thinking about other unrelated "stuff".
When we're "out and about", we tend to think of other things, i.e. what we're gonna' do when we get home...or reviewing the day's events...or any one of a million other things.
You can train yourself to be alert by focusing on what you are doing and the area that you are in. You look around at what's around you. You don't have to memorize your environment...just put your eyes on what's in your environment.
You let your other thoughts go...and just absorb. Doing that actually can quieten your mind. It can be calming. (You can get philosophic about this and include "acceptance of what it" as well as other concepts, but that's beyond the scope of this newsletter.)
To be alert, you put your thoughts on "hold" and have a look around. You're just looking... taking it all in.
It's amazing how quickly you can pick this up!
Other thoughts will creep in from time to time. When they do, recognize it, and have another look around. Continue on with your new "alert" point of view!
What Then?
Then, when something breaks that sense of "calm", you focus on it. For example, you're walking around, just taking things in, and you hear a baby cry. Your attention goes to the crying baby, you analyze, and if nothing seems too out of place, you continue your observing of the environment.
Now, if something doesn't seem right...you should act. Do something. What you do will depend on the situation. You may choose to just observe. You may choose to call it in to 911 as suspicious. You may choose to move into a building, or quickly get to your car, or some other form of evasion. Or, you may choose to employ other options.
Say that again...
When you are out of your safe zone (home, office, etc.), be alert. Keep looking around, checking, rechecking your environment. Just scan, and absorb; don't make a special effort to remember... let your mind (conscious or subconscious) soak it in.
Then when you notice something, focus on it. If it seems OK after a second look, continue on in "alert" mode.
If there's something about a suspicious event or person that you can't shake...do something. That something that you "do" will depend on the circumstances. What you may do is just, focus on the incident ... watch. Or you may see fit to call 911. Or, you may feel the need to get others (and/or yourself) involved.
What is it, that is so suspicious?
Often times, you can't put your finger on why something is suspicious. It may come as a subliminal indicator. Your subconscious mind may be warning you of "danger".
Whatever it is... you just can't get it out of your mind. Or it may make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Or it just doesn't seem "right".
Suspicious activity or behavior doesn't "fit in". It's unusual. It makes you wonder. Or it brings about physiological reactions.
Don't necessarily dismiss your "gut" feelings.
Tangible Suspicious Activity
The following are indicators. They, by themselves, are not indictments of something afoul. Think of these as things that may warrant further investigation. They are "flags". If you find two or more indicators (flags), you may be on to something.
Alone, looks nervous, may be agitated
Furtive behavior
Looking at, or for, others
Activity or behavior not consistent with that location
Pulling into a parking space, but not getting out
Hands kept out of visibility
Clenching of fists
Pretending to talk on a payphone or cell phonehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Watching others exit a building
Loitering
Inappropriate, for the weather, clothing
Looking out of place, or looking like they feel out of place
More
Here is a great article on situational awareness.
We know there are bad guys out there. Some are just unorganized criminals. Some are part of a group (gang). Some are part of a highly organized group. And some have political motives.
You don't have to be paranoid to be alert. Just be alert. And when you see something that is suspicious, ACT.
Don
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