Hey Sheepdog, hope you’re doing well.When I saw the report on the news I couldn’t believe it…
…I was out with friends at a nightclub.
The music was pumping, people were laughing, and on the surface, it seemed like a great night.
But for some reason, I couldn’t shake a feeling that something wasn’t right.
It wasn’t one big thing, but a collection of small signals…
…a few tense faces, a heated argument in the corner that fizzled out too quickly, and just an overwhelming sense of unease.
I tried to brush it off, telling myself I was overthinking things. But every fiber of my being screamed,
Leave. Now.
Convincing my friends wasn’t easy.
“Come on, we’re having fun!” they protested.
But I insisted, pulling out every excuse I could think of until they reluctantly agreed.
We left and went to a quieter place down the road.
The next morning, the news broke.
There had been a shooting at the club later that night.
Several people were injured. Some didn’t make it.
My blood ran cold as I realized how close we had come to being in the wrong place at the wrong time…
That night taught me something,
Your instincts are there for a reason.
Gavin De Becker, in his groundbreaking book The Gift of Fear, explains this beautifully.
He describes fear not as a weakness but as a powerful, innate gift designed to protect us.
De Becker argues that our intuition is a survival tool, capable of picking up on subtle cues and patterns of behavior long before our conscious mind catches up.
For example, if someone is walking too closely behind you on a quiet street, your instinct might tell you to cross the road.
If a stranger’s friendly smile feels off, you might get a sense that something’s wrong.
It’s not paranoia—it’s perception.
Your brain is processing countless tiny details—body language, tone of voice, eye movements—and delivering a clear message…
Pay attention.
The problem is, we live in a culture that encourages us to suppress these instincts.
We’re told to be polite, not to make a scene, and to give others the benefit of the doubt.
How many times have you heard someone say, “I had a bad feeling, but I didn’t want to be rude”?
How often do we dismiss that inner voice as irrational?
That nightclub incident could have ended very differently if I had ignored my gut feeling.
Listening to it wasn’t just about avoiding immediate danger. It was an act of self-respect.
It was acknowledging that my instincts knew something I didn’t—and they were trying to keep me safe.
De Becker says it best…
“No matter how many signals you get, no matter how much noise surrounds you, your intuition will always do its job. It is your choice whether or not to listen.”
Your instincts are your first line of defense. They don’t require you to explain or justify them—they just need you to trust them.
Learning to trust your instincts isn’t just about avoiding danger; it’s about living with awareness and confidence.
It’s about giving yourself permission to act on what you feel, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable.
That’s why situational awareness and self-defense training aren’t optional—they’re essential.
They sharpen your ability to pick up on those subtle signals, understand what your instincts are telling you, and act decisively.
You don’t need to become a black belt or a bodyguard to stay safe.
You just need to hone the skills you already have, starting with listening to your gut.
If you’ve ever ignored your instincts and regretted it, or if you want to strengthen your ability to sense danger and respond effectively, you’re not alone.
That’s exactly what we focus on in the Fight or Flight Newsletter and the My Krav Life Community.
Join us as we dive deeper into practical strategies for staying safe and confident, no matter what life throws at you.
Click here to join the free My Krav Life community and start honing your instincts today: https://www.mykravlife.com/community-registration…Or if you’re ready to take it further, check out the Fight or Flight Pro Newsletter for actionable self-defense insights that go beyond the basics: https://www.mykravlife.com/community-registration…
Trust your instincts—they’re trying to keep you safe,
Paul Simoes