In this article I want to share a few ideas about mental preparation and some correspondence I recently recently received from subscribers to my self-defense newsletter. I'm hoping it will provide some context to your "self-defense readiness" and generate some thinking.

Self-Defense Performance Is The Result Of Mental Maps

I wrote about mental maps in "The Nuts And Bolts Of Awareness."

Our awareness, understanding, decisions, predictions and behavior are directed by the "mental maps" we have about the way the world works. Our knowledge, beliefs, experience and habits are "packaged" in the form of mental maps (also called cognitive blueprints or schemas).

If those "maps" are detailed and accurate, you dramatically increase the probability of effective performance in high-stress situations.

If those maps are inaccurate, have gaps or are missing all together, you run the risk of an improper reaction, over reacting, under reacting or not reacting at all.

We have a term for that in self-defense training. Its called "NOT GOOD!"

Thinking Is Impaired By Stress

What makes matters worse is that people aren't particularly "smart" in high-stress, urgent, threatening situations. At times like those, you are not operating in the same mental state that you are in while you sit here reading this article.

When the "Fight or Flight Response" (sympathetic nervous system) is activated, your ability to think creatively and logically is impaired. That increases the potential for confusion and mistakes during a dangerous situation.

Invest In Your Safety With Pre-Thinking and Debriefing

Science and psychology confirm that mental rehearsal or visualization has a huge impact on improving our physical and mental performance.

The good news is that self-defense encounters don't happen often. The bad news is that self-defense encounters don't happen often! Huh? Before you read that again, let me explain...

Its hard to "get good" at something that never happens. Unlike other activities requiring experience and skills development, you can't rely on repeated exposure and previous events when preparing for a violent encounter. So how do you improve your self-defense effectiveness?

Physical practice is "part" of the answer... Especially, when you participate in role playing scenarios that simulate the types of situations that you might encounter. But even that isn't enough to really get "street smart."

What you need to do is create self-defense scenarios in your mind. You need to "pre-think" and decide in advance about what you would do in a critical situation BEFORE it happens.

Think about situations you are most concerned about or likely to encounter and what you would do if they did.

Don't just leave it to luck. You can't "worry about it when the time comes" and hope to perform effectively. Remember, your brain is impaired by stress, panic, and confusion! Without some sort of game plan, its unlikely that you will perform well.

The question to ask yourself is, "What would I do if