Before anything else, this needs to be understood in a way that actually sticks.
Protection is not something you do because you’re scared. It’s something you do because you’re aware. There’s a difference, and if you start from the wrong one, everything after it feels off.
You lock your door at night. Not because you expect something to happen every single time, but because it’s basic awareness. It’s understanding that you exist in a world where things can happen, and you take simple steps to keep your space secure.
This is the same thing. Just not physical.
And where people get it wrong is they either ignore protection completely… or they swing too far in the other direction and start thinking everything is a threat. Both of those mindsets will throw your practice off.
You don’t need to fear what you’re doing.
But you do need to respect it.