“Intuition is always right in at least two important ways; it is always in response to something. It always has your best interest at heart”― Gavin De Becker – The Gift of Fear
A
couple of years ago, Officer Chad Taylor was the guest speaker for my criminal
law class at the University of West Georgia. I had no idea how animated his
presentation would be. He engaged the students with demonstrations of dangerous
encounters and asked what they would do if they had uneasy feelings about a person
or situation. It was unique, interactive, and based on something I have rarely
thought of; intuition.
Before
the class, Chad and I discussed ideas that focused on strategy and tactics when
confronted with important decisions. While we were discussing the concept of
intuition, he suggested that I read The
Gift of Fear written by Gavin DeBecker.
When I finished the book, my entire perspective
regarding intuition changed.
The
book is based on the premise that intuition is not some mythical, unscientific
concept, but is rather a scientifically sound source of information which your
unconscious mind then processes to come up with “hunches,” “gut feelings,” and
premonitions.
DeBecker,
as a security expert to a variety of government officials and famous people
around the world, clearly knows his subject matter.
Do
you remember the last time you felt uneasy about someone or something for no
apparent reason? What about decision making in your personal and professional
life? Have some of those decisions been made based on an inner feeling?
Amie
Simpson, a domestic violence attorney says intuition is what makes some lawyers
know when to ask that one last question during cross examination, when a
witness is lying, when the judge has decided to make a ruling, when to nudge
that other attorney during negotiations, and when to back off.
Intuition
can naturally help us deal with extremely problematic people in our lives, help
single people determine whether a person is a potential date or potential
stalker, respond appropriately during stressful or dangerous situations, choose
child care providers, survive episodes of family violence, and countless other
scenarios.
In all of these situations, DeBecker says that intuition tries to get our attention through nagging feelings, persistent thoughts, anxiety, hesitation, curiosity, or dark humor.
This
same intuition used at home and work applies to more dangerous situations too. He
tells the story of a group of office staff who were sorting through the mail at
the California Forestry Association. An unusual package was in the mail
addressed to the former president of the association. Everyone speculated on
what might be in the package.
When the staff finally decided to open it, one
man (Bob Taylor) said, jokingly, “I’m going back to my office before the bomb
goes off.” He walked down the hall to his desk.
Before he sat down, he heard the enormous explosion that killed his
boss. Because of intuition, that bomb did not kill Bob Taylor.
When
DeBecker later talked with Taylor about the incident (attributed to the
Unabomber), he was able to help Taylor recognize that he had seen the signs of
danger all along; the strange way the package was addressed, its unusual
weight, excessive postage and tape. His subconscious put the signs together and
nudged him out of the room.
Over and over, DeBecker recounts stories of people whose lives were saved by listening to that small voice inside.
Interestingly, according to DeBecker, women have a higher level of intuition than men.
Why? This is a genetic and biological survival
response. He says that a man’s greatest
fear is that a woman may reject him. A
woman’s greatest fear is that she may be raped or murdered.
God
gave us the gift of intuition. However, those inner signals and outer signals
are often ignored or thought of as “superstition” or “just an overreaction.”
I
have ignored those inner intuitive signals from time to time over the years. Without
exception, when I have ignored my intuition a negative consequence occurred.
The Gift of Fear does not suggest
replacing intelligent choices with intuition. DeBecker stresses the importance
of combining the two. His book reveals a road map that has been there all
along, but of which most of us are not aware. It is a map to safety and good
decision making by way of common sense and self-awareness.
His book will make you think twice the next time your intuition tries to get your attention.