It is unfortunate to think, but we live in a world that is becoming increasingly more dangerous. Violent crimes—such as assault—against neighbors are reported every day. In some cases, those committing the crime are our neighbors, bringing the seriousness of the situation literally to your doorstep.

No matter who you are or where you live, you can be affected by a crime without notice. You and your family need to be prepared. The following are 3 easy tips that you can start implementing immediately to help you be more aware of potential threats around you.

Pay attention

Often times we focus so much on the things going on immediately around us, that we forget to pay attention to possible threats that could come from people outside of our immediate attention zone. There are many signs that will clue you in to a possible threat nearby, and even without proper training, you can still recognize them subconsciously.

Listen to your intuition

Ever had your subconscious start buzzing that there is a threat nearby? You don’t know why, but you don’t want that person anywhere near you. Listen to that feeling. Trust it. Heed its prompting.

Your intuition is driving you to stay away from them. And you should. You probably noticed something minute that seemed suspicious or out of the ordinary. At the risk of appearing rude, it is always better to follow your initial impression and avoid them at all costs, even at the cost of appearing rude. Your personal and family’s safety is worth the possible offense.

Meditate daily

Hear me out. Don’t dismiss this idea quite yet. Meditating is one of the best ways to train yourself to pay attention to the things around you. When you practice quieting your mind and listening, you learn to hear and see things that you have never noticed before. Aside from enriching your everyday experiences, it will help you enlarge your awareness bubble. You will begin to more easily identify potential threats without any more training than 15 to 30 minutes of sitting on a floor, thinking about nothing.

In times like these, safety should be your number one priority. If you begin implementing these steps right away, you will be better warned of potential threats. Early identification can help you prevent a conflict by not giving it a chance to develop.