If you heard there was a weapon proven to prevent most crimes (including picking a dangerous partner) before it happened, would you run out and buy it?

World-renowned security expert Gavin de Becker says this weapon exists, but you already have it. He calls it "the gift of fear."

The story of a woman named Kelly begins with a simple warning sign. A man offers to help carry her groceries into her apartment — and instantly, Kelly doesn't like the sound of his voice. Kelly goes against her gut and lets him help her — and in doing so, she lets a rapist into her home.

"We get a signal prior to violence," Gavin says. "There are pre-incident indicators. Things that happen before violence occurs."

Gavin says that unlike any other living creature, humans will sense danger, yet still walk right into it.

"You're in a hallway waiting for an elevator late at night. The elevator door opens, and there's a guy inside, and he makes you afraid. You don't know why, you don't know what it is. And many women will stand there and look at that guy and say, 'Oh, I don't want to think like that. I don't want to be the kind of person who lets the door close in his face. I've got to be nice. I don't want him to think I'm not nice.'

And so human beings will get into a steel soundproof chamber with someone they're afraid of, and there's not another animal in nature that would even consider it."

Gavin says that "eerie feelings" is exactly what he wants people to pay attention to. "We're trying to analyze the warning signs," he says. "And what I really want to teach today and forever is the feeling of the warning sign. All the other stuff is our explanation for the feeling. Why it was this, why it was that. The feeling itself IS the warning sign."

How the Gift of Fear Can Save Your Life

(click on link below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYnFbHNvhkM

99.9% of the people we meet pose no hazard to you or whatsoever, and that’s why you don’t feel any hazard. That’s why when you do, it’s so important to listen because it’s remarkably rare. It’s rare that you have that feeling, not frequent.

Worry VS Fear
How do you know if it’s true fear?

True fear, is always in respond to something you sense right now. You hear it, you smell it, you taste it, you feel it. It’s in this room, it’s here.

Worry, is always in respond to something in your imagination or your memory.

Here’s the funny example:

You’re getting on an aeroplane in the airport. You’re afraid that the plane’s gonna crash. Why? Is it a news program that you saw about a plane crash, that would mean memory or imagination, which means it’s worry.

Or is it seeing the pilot, stumble out of the bar drunk? That would mean it’s in your environment.

You can have a feeling of fear, but if it’s not present in your environment, then it’s from your imagination or memory.


More Youtube Video (click on blue links to watch):

Gavin de Becker - Gift of Fear - Oprah - Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1U8G1dOCLs

Gavin de Becker - Gift of Fear - Oprah - Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cA3vaRNH8A 

One night in late August, I was completely asleep. And I heard my name shouted: “Dorothy!” So I was laying down right here, facing my TV. I turned to my left shoulder and I saw a knife about this big. I could see the reflection of my TV in the blade…

Gavin de Becker - Gift of Fear - Oprah - Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38hFr96pTO4

Gavin de Becker - Gift of Fear - Oprah - Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ZYc_6nL9Q