Your compassion is ineffective against
aggressive, sadistic, exploitive, unscrupulous, abusive people. Attacks will be
to your values, ethics, civil or human rights, property, physical self, or
loved ones. In civil society, a threat of bodily harm is an offense punishable
by law. Situational awareness is crucial. Consider each threat a warning of
impending attack.
Your best defense is your mental and
physical conditioning—your long-term preparation for managing threats. Backup
resources such as family, friends, associates and advocates will also reinforce
your defense, just as they may depend on your assistance in their times of
need.
Prepare to defend yourself by conscious,
intentional development of coping strengths and through personal self-defense
training if possible. Coping strengths enable you to manage a range of
stressors. Facts and evidence enable you to effectively defend yourself
verbally and in writing. Physical strength and courage, stamina, agility, and
grace enable you to run toward chaos, engage a threat, or flee to safety.
When aware of a threat, weigh the
consequences of your possible responses. Then, act with informed intention.
Overreaction may be seen either as vulnerability or escalation.
Review the entire experience later, gaining
insight to guide your future behavior.
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ꟷWill Walsh ©2020
ꟷWill Walsh ©2020