looking back, the "bad" things I've experienced were due largely to my failing to consider what could go wrong. Over the years, I've learned to consider "Murphy's Law" whenever I do something...especially for the first time. Anytime I'm planning on doing something at all risky, I try to pause, beforehand, and consider how I might screw it up, and potentially cause some damage or hurt myself.
There are two things I try to pay particular attention to....chainsawing and driving. A chainsaw is one of the most dangerous tools a person can use, so I always approach that with a great deal of caution. Driving is also very dangerous if a person isn't paying full attention. I subconsciously consider every other car and driver near me as a hazard...especially when driving on 2 lane country roads. I consider what I might do if an oncoming car veers into my lane...etc. I assume that every car I meet is being driven my someone who is playing on their cell phone, and not paying attention. I don't know how many times, in recent years, I've had to dodge someone who is drifting over the yellow line.
Basically, I constantly think of what might go wrong, and what I need to do in case it happens....so far, that has worked out well.