Security has many definitions, but the most common purpose is a state of being free from danger or threat. When you feel secure, you feel safe and protected from harm. You may also feel confident and assured in yourself and your ability to handle whatever comes your way.
Security can also refer to physical safety, like locking your doors at night or installing an alarm system in your home. But it can also refer to emotional safety, like feeling secure in a relationship or knowing you have a support system if something wrong happens. And finally, security can also refer to financial stability or planning to weather any storms that come your way.
Regardless of your definition of security, it’s important to remember that feeling secure is vital for our overall well-being. When we don’t feel safe, we are more likely to experience anxiety, stress, and depression. So, take some time today to assess what areas of your life could use more security and then take steps to create it.
The word “security” originates in Latin from the root word Securus meaning “free from care.” This root gave rise to the Old French seurite, which was then borrowed into English in the 14th century. The earliest English usage of security referred to freedom from danger or harm. Over time, however, the meaning of security expanded to include financial and physical safety. Today, we use the term security to refer to a wide range of measures taken to protect people and property from risks, large and small.
Feeling secure means being free from fear or anxiety about threats like crime, natural disasters, or economic instability. Meanwhile, ensuring security often requires investing significant resources in surveillance systems, armed guards, and fortifications for businesses and governments. Moreover, in an increasingly interconnected world where new risks emerge daily – think cyberattacks and pandemics – achieving proper security is an ongoing challenge.
Despite its challenges (or perhaps because of them), protecting our safety remains a top priority for individuals as well as institutions around the globe.