Be Aware of Your Environment
We are what we practice. So practice being aware of your surroundings.
Everytime you enter a space; everytime you leave a space; everytime someone enters or leave a space you accomodate…
Many of the dangers that exist within our environment, can be avoided with our awareness. Awareness not just through our eyes, but through our other senses as well:
- Sound.
- Smell.
- Gut Feeling…
Distractions deplete our awareness capacity, and in extension, enhance our vulnerability to a potential danger within our environment. Examples of distractions when commuting or engaging within a particular environment include:
- Family.
- Friends.
- Co-Workers.
- Mobile Device.
Each of these in their own way can deplete our awareness capacity & jointly can enhance our vulnerability to threats when we’re in a space. So to mitigate against you being ambushed through shock & awe make your awareness of your environment a daily practice.
Scanning Your Environment-Another Form of Practicing Awareness
Scanning your environment can be considered as observation in action.
Observation:
- The fact that you see or notice something.
- The act of watching something or someone closely.
Cambridge Dictionary Website | Retrieved September 13, 2024
What You’re Scanning Within Your Environment
How you scan your environment in terms of what you should look for (in depth)… is beyond the scope of this article. Essentially however, what you’re doing through scanning, is among other things:
- Cementing a Mental Map of the environment.
- Identifying elements that pose as hazards/threats.
- Creating an execution plan/contingencies in the event of worst case scenarios (Combat, Hide, Runaway…)
Applying Your Environment Scanning to your Home & Vehicle
Environmental scanning of your home & vehicle can be simple & complex. Variables such as:
- Time of day.
- Time of year.
- Population specifics within a defined radius to your home & vehicle.
- Commute route
- Closeness of nearest police station & other emergency/social security services.
- Threat specifics (humans, animals…) and their potential/actual weapons.
…
Each of these individually & collectively, can make environmental scanning & worst case scenario planning ‘simple’ and complex.
Scanning of Your Environment & Worst-Case Scenario Planning is Mentally-Heavy
Environmental scanning & worst-case scenario does not necessarily become mentally-lighter with practice. At least using myself as an example, ‘the practice becomes more second nature & tolerable-of the mental discipline- to practice every time I enter, and/or exist within a space.
The reality of this lifestyle being such, is why for many, the action of contracting others (close protection officers, private security…) to do this is reality.
Having said this, for all of us, irrespective of our financial position & access to security resources, we all will be exposed to a space/environment whereby we will be tasked with employing our skills of environmental scanning at the least.
How much you make scanning your environment a practice, can mean the difference between how you cope with the worst-case scenario.
About The Author
Oshane Bryant: BSc Geology, Geography Minor; ACE CPT since 2012; Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) Accelerator Graduate-2018 cohort; Licensed KUKIBO Martial Arts & Self Defense, Senior Instructor; CSA Certified Executive Protection; OB Fitness Founder & Managing Director.
