The Gift of Fear: And Other Survival Signals that Protect Us from Violence Author: | Language: English | ISBN:
B0000544OJ | Format: EPUB
The Gift of Fear: And Other Survival Signals that Protect Us from Violence Description
Fear can save your life. It directs you to avoid that stranger, to leave the room, to call for help. The intuitive message of fear, together with rational principles, can help you to predict and thereby avoid personal violence. In this program Gavin de Becker, America's leading expert on predicting violent behavior, demystifies the apparently random and unpredictable nature of violence and shows you how interpersonal violence can be detected and derailed. De Becker's clients include celebrities, corporations, and political organizations, and he serves as an adviser to the CIA and the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 3 hours
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Abridged
- Publisher: Phoenix Books
- Audible.com Release Date: December 15, 1999
- Language: English
- ASIN: B0000544OJ
When a young relative of mine was vacationing, a stranger grabbed her by the arm and said, "Come with me or I'll kill you." She reacted instinctively and broke free, and as she ran she expected to be shot at any second. But she made it to safety and provided the cops with a good description.
One year later and 100 miles from where that happened, another little girl was grabbed by a stranger, who said something to her--this was captured on videotape. The frightened child, instead of fleeing, cooperated. She was later murdered by her abductor.
I think most of us fall into that second category, because we don't listen to the instinct to run, or to fight, or to (best of all) avoid those situations in the first place. We've been trained to suppress those very instincts that exist to preserve our lives.
What deBecker's book so expertly does is re-train us to listen to our intuition, to scope out our environment and everyone in it, and to read the danger signs we would otherwise prefer to ignore.
Panic and anxiety are not useful emotions; fear is different. Fear is what compels us to take action if there is a clear and present danger; it's what allows us to see what's happening and respond appropriately. It's an emotion that should be nurtured instead of conquered. We don't want our kids to grow up afraid of the boogeyman, scared to go out of their homes or try new things or meet new people. De becker teaches us that, instead, if we develop and learn to trust our intuition, we can free ourselves from that trap, just as we can react positively if we are ever in a position that requires immediate escape.
The Gift of Fear: And Other Survival Signals that Protect Us from Violence Preview
Link
Please Wait...