In motorcycle rider safety classes they have SIPDE:
Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute
or sometimes it get simplified to SPA:
Search, Predict, Act
The book, Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere says:
Perception, Evaluation-Decision, Reaction
Detect, Defuse, Defend
There’s the good old OODA loop:
Observe, Orient, Decide, Act
Whatever acronym you choose, whatever paradigm it’s used in, they all start with the same thing:
Awareness
You need to be aware of your surroundings. Your eyes need to be seeing. Your ears need to be hearing. There may things for your nose to smell, your tongue to taste, or your body to touch and feel. You cannot have your nose in a book, in an iPhone or iPad, headphones blaring music into your ears. These things keep you from being aware of your surroundings, and then… what are you missing? and is missing that a good thing?
It’s not just self-defense either. It’s useful while driving. It’s useful because maybe that cute girl or guy across the room is trying to get your attention. Because that job opportunity may be fleeting. Because that business prospect may be a diamond in the rough.
It all starts with Awareness.
Stuff From Hsoi 
Nice post. Awareness would have to be THE most underrated and poorly understood aspect of self defence out there. Often gets a certain amount of lip service paid to it and that is it.
I like the point that you raise about how awareness can factor in many others aspects of life. So true.
Thank you. Really, awareness is so key in life… not just self-defense. Am I perfect about it? No, who can be? But I have noticed that people more aware of the world around them tend to get further, prosper more, and manage life a lot better than those oblivious to the world around them.