This is the sixth in a multi-article series on Components of Personal Defense. In this article we will briefly discuss perhaps the most important topic in your ability to successfully navigate a personal attack; mindset.
Napoleon Hill, author of the best-selling book Think and Grow Rich said “whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve”. Dale Carnegie said “”most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed no hope at all.” Samuel Johnson said “great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance.” Albert Einstein said “anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
What do these and many other quotes imply? Simply that the mind is the primary driving factor behind any accomplishment whether it be in a career, a hobby, on in our case the defense of self and others. In short, if we believe we will fail, then we will fail. If, however, we believe we will succeed, there is a strong probability that we will succeed, even if we don’t immediately succeed. Remember the old saying “if at first we don’t succeed, try, try again”.
So, what does it take to succeed in protecting ourselves and our families? If we are going to learn a task, we look at those that are the experts. Of all the people in the world, who is best at the job of personal protection and protection of others? Secret Service, Private Protection Services, Private Military Contractors, Tier-1 Operators. By looking at these individuals we can identify the skills needed to protect ourselves and others.
An Internet search returned a ton of results but as it turns out, they all identify a core set of skills. Not ironically, they are mostly mental skills. Physical skill, while necessary, is not the primary skill required to prosecute a deadly force engagement. But let’s be clear about something right here. Regardless of what you may have been told, if you are in a fight, any type of fight, you are, at least for that time, a warrior. The amount of fight in the warrior is called the warrior spirit. Former Navy Seal and author of Unleash the Warrior Within Richard Machowicz says it clearly: “Being a warrior is not about the act of fighting. It’s about being so prepared to face a challenge and believing so strongly in the cause you are fighting for that you refuse to quit.” So, what makes a warrior and the warrior mindset? Some of the most commonly identified traits are…
Confidence – the warrior must be confident in his abilities to perform. This is not ego. Confidence comes from testing one’s ability in real life or near real life scenarios. The warrior understands his/her abilities and limitations.
Strength – fighting is a physical activity. The warrior takes pride in his/her physical fitness. Regardless of age and capability, the warrior strives to be the best physically they can be.
Aggressiveness – the warrior understands that fighting takes being aggressive. The warrior understands that there are times that, in order to stop a threat, he/she must hurt another person.
Discipline – the warrior understands the value of discipline in their daily life and control under stress. The warrior strives, through training, to develop the ability to operate effectively in high stress environments.
Bravery / Courage – defined as the ability to execute effectively despite fear. Warriors know that fear inhibits action. Warriors strive to manage fear and perform despite the odds.
Focus – intense focus on the task at hand is a trait of the warrior. Undisciplined people are easily distracted whereas the warrior maintains an intense focus on the immediate task.
Cunning – warriors find a way to win. They use all the resources available and are able to adapt to situations and overcome obstacles. When necessary, warriors have the ability to be ruthless in their desire to win.
Skill – the warrior strives to be the master of their chosen discipline. Whether it is being the best at a career, the best spouse, the best in a sport, or in our case the best at being the Protector, the warrior is always working to be better.
Developing the warrior mindset takes time but with training and hard work, everyone who wants to can develop the skills that define a warrior. The warrior mindset doesn’t just apply to personal defense. These skills are incredibly valuable in normal everyday life. Building the skills of the warrior simply makes us able to perform better in all aspects of our lives.
I hope this has given you some things to think about. If you have friends or know of someone that would benefit from these articles, feel free to pass them along. Wake Firearms Training classes can be found on our web site at www.wakefirearmstraining.com. And as always, if you have questions or comments please reach out to me at wakefirearmstraining@mindspring.com.
Train Hard! Stay Frosty! Never Give Up!
John Neblett