Mindset is often mentioned in the context of personal protection. However, it’s usually either discussed in a philosophical way or reduced to an incomplete discussion about the Color Codes of Awareness. Since mindset is something that will generally be exercised by the subconscious mind, long theoretical and philosophical treatises are of limited value in training it. A more succinct list such as Jeff Cooper’s Principles of Personal Defense is probably more retainable by most people. Even his list is a little long for an opening discussion.
The
NRA Guide to the Basics of Personal Protection In The Home lists these components of mindset:
• values,
• mental techniques, and
• attitude
And a ‘mental preparedness’ list of:
• awareness,
• willingness to use deadly force,
• determination to persevere,
• planning, and
• visualization
If you had to create a bullet list of what mindset consisted of for an interested but untrained group of people, what would the list be? I think that it would have to consist of no more than four or five items.