There is a story of a police officer who is in a hand to hand combat with an offender.  They struggle in the fight and the offender pulls out a weapon.  It’s a firearm.  They struggle and the police officer is able to draw his sidearm.  He is able to shoot at the offender five times, but the offender is still able to come after him.  The officer is shot by the offender.  The fight continues and the officer thinks, “ Oh s#$!, I’m shot!  Ok, if this guy can take five shots, then I can survive this.  I can win.  I have to win.  I will win!”  The officer survives this incident and is able to go home to his family.

However, there is another story.  There is a story of a police officer who is shot at…he lost his pinky finger.  However, the officer dies from shock because he was afraid of fact of being shot.

You can survive a horrible engagement, but the will to survive must be evident.  It is an internal motivator that comes from deep inside.  You have to believe that you will win a difficult encounter whether the offender has a weapon or not.  If the offender has a knife, a firearm, or any other weapon, the more aggressive you are with them the more likely you are able to win.  And winning is a choice.  It’s the mentality to fight so that you can go home that night.  It’s the mentality of surviving the event no matter what the cost.

Surviving is a Choice.  Would today be the day you make that choice?