Hadassah Louis:
We all want to be safe, whether it means safe in our lover’s arms, a good environment, physical safety or financial stability; safety is the threshold we never want to tip. In Psychology, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs places safety as the toppriority forfulfillment after we’ve satisfied the basic needs of breathing, eating, and reproduction. Self-actualization and any form of development is impossible to achieve without safety.
‘Safe’ is defined as being secure, at ease and not in danger. Is it possible, then, to achieve a safe life in a world terrorized by economic uncertainty, violence, natural disasters and narcissism, among other vices?
The answer varies highly, dependent on where you live. Nonetheless, risk remains everywhere. There are seven steps you can take to build a safe life regardless of where you live.
1.UNDERSTAND SAFETY:
Safety matters, whether we are conscious of it or not.We need to expand our horizon on safety in order to grasp the message of Maslow. Safety goes beyond protection from burglars, there is a safety for our emotions, finances, families, business, property and environment. In short, safety is the art of living.
Living a safe life does not imply hiding from reality or living a life devoid of risk. It is an understanding of who you are as an individual, the factors in your environment, and how best to navigate it to ensure security and development.
Until we recognize that safety is not a duty but consciousness, the security we want to achieve for complete fulfillment in our lives may continue to evade us.
2.SET YOUR PRIORITIES
Focus your energy on one certain goal. What do you want? How do you want it? What don’t you want? This can be in relation to your safety, as coined by SAFIGI Outreach Foundation Ltd Safety Education Course [https://www.scribd.com/document/293185352/Safety-Education-Course-Lesson-Plans-for-Educators ], being either internal or external ; internal safety being peace of mind, heart, and emotions; external safety being protection of the body, other person, and environment.
What safety is it that you or your environment lacks, and what is needed to attain it?
3.FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
Always wear your seatbelt! Do not leave your bag unattended! Do not leave your children alone in the car! Do not drink and drive! Keep out of reach! All these are some examples of instructions. Life has so many rules that we bend, break, or ignore completely. But to live a safe life, there are some rules you should never compromise – these are rules and laws that if not followed, put your life and that of others in danger.
4.GET INVOLVED
A safe world will not be created if you cower and hide. Get up and make a difference. No one will do it for you.
If you are in need of financial safety, work hard – legally. Taking an illegal route eliminates your chances of being safe almost immediately. If what you seek is comfort and stability in a relationship, understand your partner, fulfill his or her need, seek counselling if things aren’t working out. Don’t stick to abusive relationships, an abuser is never a safe person to be with. If your mind haunts you or you are suffering from trauma, seek a therapist who will understand your needs and work towards healing. The list is exhaustive.
If a safer world is what you seek, work in security, join the army, help other people or help an organization grow. Not sure where to start, why not try being involved as a volunteer in a local organization?
5. BE ALERT
Stay alert. Stay alert. Stay alert. This way you won’t miss the signs when you see something is going wrong. Sometimes awareness allows the feeling that something is going wrong. We can choose to ignore this, but at a great risk. To be safe, it is important to be alert and think quick and smart in any given situation.Remember, Safety is not a duty but a consciousness.
6.LEARN TO SAY NO
If you don’t want to do something, say No! FIRMLY. There is no reason to jeopardize your emotional safety – in terms of anxiety, financial or physical safety. Saying no can hurt feelings but if someone or a situation has the power to hurt you, do not give your approval by saying Yes. Engage fight or flight where necessary.
7.MAKE SAFETY A HABIT
We all want good things to happen to us and for those we love. To this, we ought to remember that safety has to be worked toward in our daily life and decisions. Safety has to be employed in our lives – by us, for us.
Mere wishes cannot eradicate an existing threat!We have to work towards safety and make it habit in order for it to become a reality for us, other human beings and our planet.
To create your own safety plan, go to [ http://www.safetyfirstforgirls.org/2013/12/create-safety-plan.html ]
About the Author:
Hadassah is a freelancer in Communication Media and Non Profit Management. She is Founder and Project Manager of SAFIGI Outreach Foundation in Zambia, a youth led volunteer organization working to advance safety for girls via Safety Education.
Her goal in life is to attain overall freedom and ultimately be a delegate for peace and conflict resolution. When she is not overwhelmed with ever impending deadlines, she can be found working on her manuscript, or taking pictures for her blog [www.themisguidedhermit.com]. She loves practicing healthy living and volunteering for worthy causes.
About SAFIGI:
SAFIGI Outreach Foundation Ltd is a not for profit organization based in Zambia with a vision to raise a generation where girls are empowered, equipped and fulfilled in every aspect of their life, for the development of the entire world. To know more about SAFIGI’s goals and activities, visit http://www.safetyfirstforgirls.org