Holistic Self-Defense

I saw this meme and it got me thinking…

Most people hear “self-defense” and picture fists flying, a violent encounter, some physical clash. That’s natural—after all, self-defense implies protection.

But what if we widened the lens?

Self-defense isn’t just physical—it can and should be holistic. Protection needs to extend beyond body and property, into our mind, our spirit, our daily energy.

Think about it: how many times this year have you been attacked physically? Probably not many.

But how many times have you been attacked emotionally or psychologically—by stress, toxic people, fear, or even your own negative self-talk? Probably more than you’d like to admit.

Here’s the irony: the violence we endure most often comes from within. We’re both attacker and victim when our inner dialogue turns into self-doubt, worry, or fear.

Here’s a Potentially Big 💡 Moment…

Most of us endure emotional violence far more than the physical. The irony is that it appears in the form of shit self-talk.

Remember, time is the only resource we cannot regenerate. When the attack originates from within, we are essentially mugging ourselves—robbing our own confidence, energy, opportunity, and time.

That’s why the meme hit me so hard. Protecting your energy—canceling commitments, taking a day off, saying no, or letting go—is also self-defense. It’s recovery. It’s situational awareness expanded into self-awareness.

A New Definition to Meditate On:

Self-defense is the ability to protect yourself from any physical, emotional, or psychological threat, danger, aggression, or attack.

That’s holistic self-defense. That’s how we stop mugging ourselves.

Negative self-talk is like stepping into the ring with the worst coach imaginable—one who whispers in your ear: “Don’t get knocked out… why’d you screw that up… just survive this round.”

If that’s the voice you’re training with every day, you could still win—but you’re exhausting yourself. It’s like running with a weight vest you don’t need. Negative thoughts, born from mismanaged fear, are an emotional weight vest that slows you down, erodes your time management, and drains your energy.

Reread the meme. Let it sink in. Protect your energy. Stop mugging yourself.

Coach B

---

Take it to the Next Level

If this message on holistic self-defense hit home, here are a few ways to go deeper with me:

1. Reframe Fear – If you want a head start on managing fear, grab my KNOW FEAR® digital program. Newsletter readers get 50% off. [Click here to get started.]

2. Private Speaking – A lot of people don’t know this, but I do select private speaking gigs for companies, sales teams, and even family groups. If you’d like me to deliver my KNOW FEAR® presentation to your people, [click here to connect].

3. BTS90 Coaching – If you want something more personal, my 90-day coaching program (BTS90) is the most direct way to work with me. The next one starts February 9, 2026. [Learn more and register here.]

4. KNOW FEAR® Podcast: If you haven't dug into our podcast, there's so many amazing guests there. I would check it out. Here's a link to our audios on Libsyn. And we are on Spotify and Apple Music as well.

---