Safety, just like happiness is a fundamental desire of every human. All behaviors we see and observed are reactions of individuals resulting from these desires. The reactions we see varies vastly from one individual to another due to the cascades of dependent reactions of perceptions and values that are influenced by past experiences and habits we acquired through cultural practices.

In essence, safety is a mindset more than rules, structures and practices. Rules and structures are important to provide a framework to practice and to develop good habits. At the same time, it can be limiting as it is established based on a fixed set of assumptions. In reality, however, our environment and conditions are forever changing which will make these rules and structures not relevant as quickly as it is established. This presents the greatest challenge when we approach formulating solutions by establishing rules and structures. 

What truly will succeed is to develop a right mindset that will generate a right response to any specific situation. This mindset practiced at an individual level will create a collective safety mindset at a community level and a safe environment. Rules and structures will than not be necessary, which most often becomes a limitations, in creating a safety culture.

What then are the right mindsets for safety? It is more of a realization and recognition of the following :

WE DO NOT LIVE ALONE. 

This is something to recognize with if we wants to live happy. Try finding a hole and live all alone by yourself for the rest of your life undisturbed by anything living or not living. You will be guaranteed a miserable life and the fastest way to end your life. Therefore, it is only natural to share resources and sharing creates happiness. Think of the happiest moments in your life.

THINK SAFETY FOR OTHERS FIRST TO CREATE SAFETY FOR OURSELF. 

While it is natural for us to think of how to achieve safety by doing what to make ourself safe, this creates a defensive reactions whenever we encounters a conflict situation. This defensive reactions, while doesn’t resolve any conflict, starts a negative spiral to defensive reactions and adds more conflicts into the situation. Rules and structures will not help here but rather, adds to the conflict when individuals holds on to their “Right of Way”.

Thinking safety for others first, removes the conflict condition to begin with. Collectively, we stops creating conflict for each other and achieve sharing of resources that leads to a collective happiness. Do not be a source of conflict if you are after happiness. If you wants to add more misery to your life, go ahead with creating more conflict.

Safety and happiness lies in our own hands depending on which perspective we looks upon it and the actions that we chooses.