Your Mind
OK it’s time to put on your thinking caps. Today’s topic has to do with what I feel like is the most often overlooked piece of equipment you have, your mind. You know; the gray matter that occupies the space between your ears, and it applies to us all, whether you are in LE, the military, Private Security or just a normal guy (or girl) with a concealed carry permit (especially the latter of the two, because face it boys and girls you probably haven’t had any formal exposure to this topic at all). You regularly practice everything else, dry firing, trigger control, breathing, sight picture, shot placement, all the basics (at least we hope you are practicing these fundamentals, if not, you’re only shortchanging yourself because the bad guys may be). You go to the range and throw rounds down range, you think about cover and concealment, low light situations, tactical movement and other scenarios, all in the name of preparing yourself for the day that you may have to engage some gun toting moron in defense of yourself or someone else. You’re prepared physically right? But how about emotionally? How about mentally? Are you ready to deal with the aftermath? When was the last time you actually thought about what was going to happen when it’s all over and then the adrenaline rush wears off. Are you mentally prepared for what happens next? Have you thought about it beforehand? What are your friends going to say? Are you going to talk about it? Who are you going to talk about with? How’s it going to affect your wife (or husband), your kids? These are things that need to be taken into serious consideration, now, because I promise you, if this ever happens it’s going to be the most life changing event you ever experience, and if you’re not mentally and emotionally prepared it could very well destroy you! But fear not. There are ways you can begin to prepare yourself for this eventuality. Really it’s very simple, and it all begins the same way you have always learned before, quite simply put; you read about it. Then you think about it and begin to prepare yourself for it. I’m going to mention a few books here, by people who have faced it, lived through it, dealt with it, studied about it and then wrote about it. My friends, Lt. Col. David Grossman and Loren Christensen, have written two books and along with Michael J. Asken, Ph.D., a third, that I have come to consider the trilogy of mental and emotional preparedness on how to deal with a subject that just cannot be stressed strongly enough. On Killing, On Combat and the Warrior Mindset are absolute must reads for anyone who has made the conscious choice to carry a firearm in the line of duty or in self defense. You owe it to yourself and to your loved ones. You’ve made the decision to carry a firearm and you’ve trained yourself to do so proficiently, now do yourself a favor and finish off by training the most important weapon you have. Your Mind. Contact lwcbooks.com to request more info on how to obtain the books mentioned in this article, hurry and you may be able to get a signed copy.
James "BO" Byrd,
U.S. Small Arms Training School Instructor
