Why "Things are never so bad that they can't get worse" is a Mindset for Life

When people look at the logo for the Center For Violence Prevention And Self Defense, they notice the brain first. That is by design. Self-defense is 10% physical technique and 90% mental processing.

Things are never so bad that they can't get worse

There is a concept in survival training and tactical analysis that sounds pessimistic on the surface, but is actually the cornerstone of staying alive:

"Things are never so bad that they can't get worse."

This isn't about being negative; it is about being strategic. In a high-stress situation, the moment you believe you have hit "rock bottom" is the moment you stop scanning for threats. And that is when you are most vulnerable.

Here is how this philosophy applies to real-world violence prevention and defense.

1. The Trap of Complacency

The biggest danger in a confrontation is assuming the current situation is the final situation.

• The Scenario: You are in a heated verbal argument with a stranger. It’s "bad."

• The Mistake: You assume it will stay verbal, so you get closer to intimidate them.

• How it gets worse: The distance you closed allows them to strike you, or prevents you from seeing their friend approaching from the side.

The Lesson: Treat every "bad" situation as a ticking clock. If you do not actively de-escalate or escape, the entropy of violence dictates that the situation will likely deteriorate.

2. Breaking Tunnel Vision

When we are stressed, our vision narrows (literally and figuratively) to focus on the immediate threat. If you are being mugged, you are looking at the weapon. It feels like the worst day of your life.

But remember: It can get worse.

If you fixate entirely on the one person in front of you, you miss the "plus one"—the accomplice standing in your blind spot. By acknowledging that things can get worse, you force your brain to stay alert and scan your environment (360-degree awareness) even while under pressure.

3. Resilience in the Face of Injury

This philosophy is most critical when the physical altercation has already begun.

Many untrained individuals freeze when they are struck. The shock of pain or the sight of their own blood causes a psychological "reset." They think, "I'm hurt, this is a disaster, I've lost."

The CVPSD Mindset:

• Bad: You have been knocked to the ground.

• Worse: You stay on the ground and give up.

If you are injured, the fight is not over. The only thing worse than being injured is being incapacitated. Acknowledging that it can get worse gives you the adrenaline and the "Why" to get back to your feet. It is the refusal to accept the current state as the end state.

The Intelligent Fighter

Adopting the mantra "Things are never so bad that they can't get worse" creates three distinct advantages for the student of self-defense:

1. It prioritizes de-escalation: You walk away from insults because you know a fistfight is worse than a bruised ego.

2. It maintains awareness: You never assume the threat you see is the only threat present.

3. It fuels resilience: You fight through shock and injury because you refuse to let the situation degrade further.

At the Center For Violence Prevention And Self Defense, we train the body to handle the fight, but we train the brain to prevent it—and survive it.