Let me ask you this: If someone wanted to make you a target right now, how easy would it be? Here’s the truth - carrying a gun doesn’t automatically make you safer. Your gun is your last resort. What really keeps you safe is your own situational awareness. You need to be able to spot danger way before it ever becomes a deadly threat. Inside your home, you control the environment. Outside your home, it becomes unpredictable. That’s where awareness becomes critical. In this video we will learn to develop a mindset of awareness. One of the best frameworks for awareness is Cooper’s Color Codes. The late Colonel Jeff Cooper was a United States Marine. He believed that the most powerful tool we have to protect ourselves is actually our mindset!   He introduced a color code that enables you to move from one state of mind to another to enable you to handle any given situation. Each color in the chart represents your “state of awareness”. White = you’re unaware, distracted and “tuned out” to your surroundings. Yellow = you’re relaxed, prepared and aware. Good situational awareness. You want to live in the “yellow zone”. Orange = you’ve identified a potential threat. You are ready to act and wargaming possible reactions. Red = you are taking action, high alert, actively engaged in emergency response to the situation or threat. Black = you are panicked, frozen, in shock, caught off guard. You are experiencing a broken down mental and physical response. You will also want to develop practical awareness habits when you are outside of your home. When you are outside your house or out and about, keep your eyes up and your ears open. Don’t bury yourself in your phone. Don’t tune yourself out with earbuds or loud music. Learn to scan your environment - when you enter an unknown building, like a store, coffee shop or restaurant, identify the exits, choke points (in case of an emergency), blind corners and most importantly people and their demeanor. Pay close attention to “transitional spaces” like parking lots, the gas pump area at gas stations or the foyer surrounding an ATM. These are zones you want to be especially aware, while you are in them. People and their demeanor is another big awareness factor. Learn to read their body language. Someone acting nervous, someone scanning around to see if anyone is watching them or someone closing the distance on you fast - these are all red flags that should heighten your state of awareness. So, if you are carrying concealed, awareness will keep you out of situations where you would ever even think about drawing your gun. With that in mind - stay discreet - don’t advertise you are carrying concealed or might be. Avoid printing through your clothes. Avoid frequent adjusting or checking your gun under your clothes. Don’t mention you are carrying at all to anyone - it’s concealed for a reason. Learn to become aware of distance and barriers between you and potential threats. Don’t let anyone “get too close”. Your gun is your last resort. Your life or someone else’s life must be in “imminent danger” if you even consider using your concealed carry firearm. Awareness is a skill and it can be trained into being second nature. Run mental “what if” scenarios. If a threat comes through that door, where’s my closest place of cover? Play recall games with you family. Try to memorize license plates or what people are wearing. Make it a rule: when you enter a building, identify all the exits. When you go to a restaurant, sit away from and facing the main entrance. Know the alternate exits as well. You will also want to avoid these common mistakes. Distractions are killers of awareness. Headphones, phones and tunnel vision. Another mistake is relying too heavily on your gun. Carrying a concealed handgun isn’t a magic shield and it’s not a deterrent. It’s a life saving device when absolutely necessary and there is no other option. And don’t ever assume “it won’t happen here” or “it won’t happen to me”. Bad guys don’t check zip codes before they show up to do bad things. Remember, awareness outside the home isn’t paranoia - it’s preparation. If you carry a concealed carry handgun, you owe it to yourself and everyone around you to be alert, calm and responsible. Make awareness part of your lifestyle. Practice it every day. And remember - the best fight is the one you are able avoid altogether. #concealedcarry #selfdefense #situationalawareness If this gave you something to think about, hit that like button. And you want more practical concealed carry tips, subscribe to the channel. Consider supporting this channel by buying a cool t-shirt, hat or mug: https://www.bonfire.com/store/anthony-battaglia As always, I want to thank you for taking the time to watch this video. Thank you for making the choice to defend yourself and those you love. God bless you and yours.