What Is Your "Why"?

[DISCLAIMER]

Years ago, when employed in the field of nuclear security, I often participated in firearms training with a buddy who was my coworker. Having gone through the same Security Police Officer training class, we enjoyed plinking (recreational shooting of improvised metal targets).

While we also engaged paper targets, metal silhouettes provided instant audible feedback. That was our “why” for using metal targets which sometimes resulted in injury when bullet fragments ricocheted back in our direction. This presented us with a potentially dangerous situation.

We could’ve stood 15 to 25 yards away from the silhouettes, as to avoid injury. However, most gunfights reportedly occur within three to five yards of a shooter and a human target. Therefore, our “why” for tolerating some degree of physical danger related to realistic firearms training.

Similarly, we fired with both our dominant and subservient hands. For instance, my dominant grip relates to my right hand. As such, I also trained to fire with my left hand. After all, one never knows when one’s dominant hand may become injured in a gunfight.

That was another “why” regarding how I trained with my buddy. Additionally, we practiced stationary shooting, shooting on the move, firing from behind obstacles, and explored various other firing positions (e.g., shooting from a prone position). Why might we have done this?

One doesn’t necessarily choose the manner, location, or other details concerning how a gunfight will unfold. That was our “why” for varying our training scenarios. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I’ve had a relatively large number of people ask why I opted for firearms training in the first place.

I suggest this is unsurprising, because it isn’t uncommon for people who don’t own or use firearms to remain ignorant (lacking knowledge, education, or awareness) about the threats faced within society. In short, I remain unconvinced by the thin veneer of socially-constructed safety.

That is my “why” for having put in a significant amount of time, energy, money, and other resources regarding firearms training. Now, when further contemplating this topic, I’m reminded of the psychotherapeutic modality I practice and a book that I’ve been steadily reading.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

Even though my buddy and I often had fun shooting at the firing range, we also put in hard work when training for potentially dangerous scenarios. Regarding this approach to rational living, authors of The Daily Stoic quote ancient Stoic philosopher Epictetus who stated (page 170):

I can’t call a person a hard worker just because I hear they read and write, even if working at it all night. Until I know what a person is working for, I can’t deem them industrious. . . . I can if the end they work for is their own ruling principle, having it be and remain in constant harmony with Nature.

I maintain that in the natural order of life there are people who are willing to bring harm to others. Although some professional providers of care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) may disagree with my view, I base my claim in reality.

It may be tempting to assume an optimistic outlook, irrationally believing that most or all people favor the well-being of others, as this sort of childish reasoning is a luxury for those who remain unfamiliar with natural violence, which I maintain is the default setting within the world.

I may’ve been born in the morning, though I wasn’t born this morning! Thus, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding about how life operates is the “why” regarding my perspective on firearms. Though I’d prefer a peaceful society, I’m aware of the potential dangers of life.

Moreover, I don’t consider it morally and ethically good to professionally provide care for mental health by teaching people not to take personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”) for their own physiological and psychological safety.

Besides, the reported average time for police to respond to an active shooter event is three minutes. Being shot at for that long can seem like an eternity! Therefore, I encourage people to take personal ownership for their own safety—to include lawful self-defense.

This preferably should include willingness to put in hard work through practice (e.g., firearms training). Even if not endorsing my specific preference in this regard, authors of The Daily Stoic state about hard work and the “why” regarding an end to which effort is applied (page 170):

What are the chances that the busiest person you know is actually the most productive? We tend to associate busyness with goodness and believe that spending many hours at work should be rewarded. Instead, evaluate what you are doing, why you are doing it, and where accomplishing it will take you. If you don’t have a good answer, then stop.

Herein, I’ve outlined my “why” for advocating personally-preferred self-defense relating to firearms. Understandably, you may disagree with my worldview. Perhaps you’re one who believes that only law enforcement and military personnel should be armed in society.

Thus, as reflected by authors of The Daily Stoic, you’ve already stopped taking personal ownership of your physiological and psychological safety. In this case, may your three minutes and three to five yards be met with plenty thoughts and prayers. Maybe Jesus will save you!

For those who don’t use a childlike view, I invite you to consider what your “why” is and train accordingly. In closing, I leave you with a quote attributed to Ed Macauley, “When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him he will win.”

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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