Give Yourself Credit: Recognize Your Power in Uncertain Times
The skills we teach at Defend Yourself — setting boundaries, trusting your instincts, protecting yourself and others — aren't abstract. They're tools people use every day to navigate exactly these kinds of moments.
Action is the antidote to fear and despair.
You already have the power within you, and we're here to help you claim it so you can show up for yourself, your loved ones, and your community with more confidence and less overwhelm.
Notice What You've Already Done
Often, students come to Defend Yourself workshops and say things like: “A person did this to me. I was afraid it would get worse. So I did A and B, then tried C and D, and I got away. What should I have done?”
See how hard we are on ourselves?
The first thing we say is: “Tell me what you DID do.”
When we recognize what we did on our own behalf, we can claim our skills, instincts, and strengths. If we honor the times we’ve advocated for or protected ourselves, they become a foundation to build on.
Your practice for this month: Think of a time when you stood up for yourself, set a boundary, or got yourself out of an uncomfortable situation. Maybe you said “no,” left a conversation that felt off, trusted your gut, or spoke up. Whatever it was, acknowledge it.
You've already tapped into your power! The more you recognize these moments, the more you’ll trust yourself to handle whatever comes next.
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The first lesson was to learn to say 'no' and to learn to say 'stop' in the face of someone saying or doing something to us that simply didn't feel comfortable. The course made me aware of an internal power I didn't know existed. That came as a surprise and changed my life.
— Lindsay, Defend Yourself student
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From Fear to Choice: How Empowerment Self-Defense Changes Lives
Lauren's Psychology Today blog post looks at what empowerment self-defense really is and how it transforms the way people think about safety. She talks about how empowerment self-defense differs from traditional self-defense, and what the research shows about its impact on confidence, assertiveness, and reducing violence. Read it here!
Join us Jan. 25 for our monthly Book Circle on Envisioning the Life You Want!
On the fourth Sunday of every month at 4 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Pacific, we meet for one hour on Zoom to explore skills and ideas from “Get Empowered” in real time. This is your chance to dive deeper into the book’s teachings, share experiences, practice skills, and build supportive community. (But you don't have to read the book!)
It’s free and it’s drop in; no need to commit. You can RSVP (to get the Zoom link) or vote for our next topic now using the button to the right!
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This month we're digging into Chapter 4: Envisioning the Life You Want. We'll talk about how to rediscover your passions after focusing solely on survival and healing, and what it looks like to build a life that's truly yours.
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Book Lauren to Speak!
Looking for a powerful voice on how to prevent and interrupt gender-based violence?
Lauren R. Taylor, founder of Defend Yourself, is available to speak to your group. As a survivor, leader, and fierce advocate, Lauren brings professional expertise, compassion, and insight to difficult topics — with a touch of humor that makes the conversation both powerful and accessible.
Lauren speaks on many topics, including:
- Overcoming victim blaming and shame (“It’s Not Your Fault, and It’s Also Not Your Fault”)
- Active bystander intervention skills (“Be the Change”)
- Setting boundaries and self-advocacy (“Claim Your Power”)
What audiences say:
“She’s wise, fierce.”
“Full of compassion, power, and insight.”
“She brings humor to a difficult topic.”
Lauren and her team have trained 40,000+ people nationwide over the past 29 years, and she’s the co-author of Get Empowered: A Practical Guide to Thrive, Heal, and Embrace Your Confidence in a Sexist World.
Ready to bring Lauren to your event?
📧 lauren@defendyourself.org
🔗 LinkedIn
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Want to feel safer and more confident?
Get Empowered with DefendYourself.org
We’re an empowerment self-defense organization teaching in D.C. and around the country. Learn to assert yourself, set boundaries, and protect yourself and your peace.
Be You. Be Safe. DefendYourself.org
Know an organization, community space, or workplace that could benefit from these skills? Let us know! We love to partner with organizations to host helpful empowerment self-defense and bystander skills workshops for our communities.
Thanks! Be safe! Keep in touch!
— The Defend Yourself team
