You’ve read the meme…
Does it make you think ‘self-defense’? Probably not. When we think of ‘self-defense’, we visualize physical violence.
By definition, self-defense implies ‘protecting’.
When I read the meme, I had an epiphany…something more holistic…
I contemplated self-defense beyond the physical skills realm.
What if we thought of self-defense as protection that extends past protecting property, body, or life?
Of course, the most urgent type of self-defense would be for sudden physical violence, but shouldn’t we also learn to detect, defuse, and defend against any threat that would compromise our health, well-being, and emotional & psychological safety?
This new paradigm would help us all lead safer, less stressful lives.
And here’s another potentially big 💡 moment…
Most of us endure far more emotional violence than physical.
E.g.:
- When was the last time you were beaten up?
vs - When was the last time you beat yourself up?
Negative self ‘shit talk’ happens more often than we think. Most don’t notice. In this scenario, the attack comes from within via negative self-talk, worrying, self-doubt, and so on… we are both the attacker and the victim.
When the attack originates from within, we are essentially mugging ourselves.
We are robbing ourselves of confidence, energy, and opportunity, but most importantly, of our ‘time’. Self-doubt creates hesitation worry & overthinking, which consumes time. And ‘time’ is the only resource we cannot regenerate.
We can better protect ourselves by protecting our time.
Holistic self-defense would require a new definition with self-awareness at its core.
Here’s what I propose:
Complete Holistic Self-defense:
The ability to protect ourselves from any physical, emotional, or psychological threat or attack.
For self-defense to be holistic, we simply need to widen the lens of what real threats encompass.
Now, along with your physical practice, self-defense can be spiritual and holistic.
Reread the meme. Recalibrate, recharge, and let’s stop mugging ourselves.
🙏
Coach B