Don't Let Imaginary Weapons Kill You.

Imaginary weapons.

They will kill you quicker than real ones.

At self defense clinics it comes up. We show the move. Somebody raises their hand and says: “What would happen if the guy had a club or a rock?”

Our clinics are fun. We answer in a fun way: “This is just a hypothetical; right?

Questioner: “Right”

“So we’re just talking about a situation that's imaginary. Their weapon is just in the mind; right?”

“Right”.

We go on: “Here’s what you do. Since the weapon we are talking about is imaginary what you do is imagine a BAZOOKA. Then you can blow the bad guy away with it!”

Of course this is a joke (and we DO teach self defenses against weapons). But we are trying to make a point.

The mind is a rabbit hole.

It doesn’t matter what the situation. Your mind can always dream up something worse. And the more bad things you dream up the more excuses you’ll have to stop taking action NOW.

If the guy could have a knife why bother learning today's move?

Don't worry about “what if”. Instead focus on “What NEXT”.  Ask yourself “What can I do to move forward?”

What you learn today will put you in a position to move forward.

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Are you sabotaging yourself with the imaginary weapon of “What if”?

“What if I ask her out and she laughs at me?” (If I don’t ask I won’t be embarrassed).

“What if working out hurts my sore knee?” (No sense starting if I’ll have to quit).

“What if no one likes me? (Better to hide who I really am).

Be present NOW. Let the “what if’s” take care of themselves. Usually they do.

When you take action you expand. When you become more you are more you can handle more. But it’s easy to hold yourself down.

All you need is two little words.

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… So I wonder.

WHAT IF no one ever reads this?

WHAT IF people think it’s stupid?

But I remember why I write. I write for salvation.

Writing is when I get to confess.

I’m not cool. I’m not someone special. I don’t have some special knowledge that other people need. It’s easy to start believing those lies when you have followers.

I need to grow more.

And if I keep saying “what if” I won’t.

And when I don't grow I begin to die.

And then I will die never really being who I could have been.

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Sticks and stones may break my bones.

But the words “what if” …

… WILL surely kill me.