YOUR VOICE CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

I saw a sign once that said, "YOUR VOICE CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE." Believe it or not, our voices are one of our best self-defense tools. Most people would never think of their voice as a safety tool, but it can very well be. Law enforcement officers have been using this technique for years and have had great results. In order to make this work, one has to be able to draw up a "take charge" attitude no matter what is happening around them.

Learning to use your voice in a commanding and assertive way can literally save your life. It is a proven fact that people freeze when the words "NO" or "STOP" are said in a commanding and authoritative tone. Try this out at home (or the grocery store); play with it a little bit and see the response you get. (Come on, it could be fun!)

Some people find this a fairly easy skill to practice and use. Others find it very difficult and uncomfortable. This idea reminds me of a scene in the movie Cool Runnings, about the Jamaican Bobsled Team going to compete in the Olympics (not much snow in Jamaica!). In this movie, there is a scene where one of the team members is discouraged. His team mate stands him in front of a mirror and tells him to look at himself and say, "I am a bad mother F_--er and I'm not taking any crap off 'a nobody!" He insists that the discouraged teammate repeat this many times, getting louder and more bold each time, until he feels it.

This is a great exercise! Look in the mirror each morning before you go out into the world and say, "I am strong. I am aware. I am in charge." Say it in a strong voice and say it until you convince yourself that it is true. If it's too tough to say boldly at first--put it on a sticky note on your mirror (at least you will read it every morning) until you start to feel it. Imagine how different the world would be if we all took a minute every day to claim our space in the universe and to make a pledge to be more positive.

We all have the response built into us; as kids, when a parent or teacher said "STOP" or "NO" in a certain tone--we knew to stop. Studies have shown criminals pause or hesitate when they hear those words as well, particularly when they hear them in a commanding tone. Using your voice to command someone to stop can also work in your favor. If a criminal thinks you are an easy target--and you tell them firmly to back off--you may well stop an attack. This strategy interrupts the criminals game plan and reverses the element of surprise back onto them.

I have participants in my self-defense/protection seminars learn to literally back someone down using their voice and body language. Learning these techniques can also help you at work, and in relationships, by learning to set boundaries for yourself and be able to hold them. Your personal space is YOURS and no one should enter into that space unless you invite them!

Your voice can also be used to draw the attention of others around you when an altercation happens. Never believe anyone who says, "Cooperate and you won't be hurt." It doesn't matter if you know them or not. Statisics tell us that is a LIE.

The more noise and ruckus you can make for anyone with bad intent, the more likely they are to leave you alone, because you are too much trouble. BE TOO MUCH TROUBLE!