The consequences of ignoring instincts…!
The consequences of ignoring instincts…
I promise to continue sharing the story of our beginnings but today I’d like to pivot for just a minute. Today I want to talk about trusting one’s instincts.
As a professional protector, one of the most troubling concerns is how easy it seems for people to ignore their instincts.
Our instincts exist to ensure our survival and the survival of the species. Of all of our instincts, the fear instinct is, for obvious reasons, the most fundamental. The fear response system, which all mammals share, resides in the amygdalae region of our brain. The amygdalae are a fascinating component of the brain that act like an emergency switch. What do I mean by this?
Our senses are designed to constantly filter our environment for danger first, in all situations, all of the time. Our hearing, vision, touch, smell, taste and even senses we are only just beginning to learn about, i.e. mirror neurons, are on-boarded at birth with the knowledge of how to do one thing, above all else, which is to live.
All of the other functions of the brain are secondary to this. How does this show up in real life? One of my favorite analogies is that of a wild animal attack. If, for example, a tiger is charging at you with teeth bared, your amygdalae will take over, acting as an “emergency switch,” short-circuiting the brain to detour all impulses to the amygdalae or “incident command” center. From there, all available bodily resources, such as adrenaline, blood flow and oxygen systems will “ready for” and proceed to battle.
How is it then, that many of us are able to ignore this inherent system of survival?
I believe one of reasons our instincts have dulled over time is through information overload. There is no debating that we face a daily barrage of violent images via television, the news, movies, and social media. Related to this, there has been a large body of research as to whether watching violence increases violent aggression.[1] I would argue though, that there is a separate but equally dangerous effect, which is that the constant exposure to violence forces the viewer to become numb to the danger, thereby creating a greater likelihood being victimized.
Research has shown that media exposure to violence creates in the audience an overwhelming feeling of imminent risk. [2] However, in spite of the known risk, most people have no choice but to leave their homes for work. If they do not work, they do not eat. Thus, of the two fears: the possible risk of violence versus the 100% definite loss of one’s paycheck, the hands-down winner will always be the fear of losing the paycheck. Ultimately then, every time one leaves home, in spite of the acknowledgement of risk, the probability of this actually happening MUST be mentally minimized. This seems to be a logical necessity. But what if the equation is wrong?
Factors that could toss your risk assessment on its head are the following: (1) a more significant probability that you could become a victim of violent crime, and (2) affordable options that would minimize risk, restore your instincts, and maximize your ability to not only live but also to enjoy life.
Significant increases in the potential for violent criminal victimization
The fear of becoming a victim to violent crime in the United States is on the rise[3] and the fear is, for once well-founded and not simply the result of media hype. The violent crime rate has been climbing, both across the United States and in Delaware since 2019. At the forefront of that trend is murder. In Delaware the violent crime rate has gone up by 3% (compared with 5% in the U.S.), but our murder rate has skyrocketed by an astounding 55% (compared with 29% in the U.S.). [4] When you consider the soaring murder rate together with the fact that there is now a critical shortage of law enforcement,[5] we have the makings for an extremely dangerous living environment.
Affordable options to minimize risk
The violent crime rates cited are real, not hype. The inability to keep law enforcement agencies sufficiently staffed will practically guarantee that this trend toward increased violence will continue. The only question is, for how long?
Your instincts should be paying full attention right about…. NOW.
Here’s the thing though, you do have options, that is better options than simply ignoring the risk and hoping that bad things don’t happen to good people.
You can access “back up” for your personal safety. It’s commonly believed that hiring a bodyguard is only something you see in movies protecting the rich and famous from overzealous fans but, in actuality, personal protection or “bodyguarding” can be accessible when you need it. It can be provided for part-time and/or temporary situations. Protection does not have to be a “24/7” or “nothing at all” arrangement. For some reason though, we are far more likely to consider calling for help with cleaning our house than we are for someone to protect our safety. This is not logical.
Not one of us is immune from victimization. It does not matter how strong or imposing your appearance. If your instincts tell you that a given situation is risky, it is, period. Know too though that you have options. The first option is to ignore your instincts and roll the dice. The second option is to satisfactorily secure your home and never leave. (We can help here, if need be, but this is not our favorite choice for you.) The best option is to increase your security, thereby lessening the risk of harm whether it’s for you or for a loved one.
If you are tired of living in fear or are only in occasional need of backup or a clone (to protect your loved ones when you can’t be there), trained professionals are available to assist. Please feel free to contact us. Our mission is to protect you and while we have different levels of expert protection professionals to assist you for your circumstances, if we cannot help you, we can definitely advise you on who can. Don’t ignore your instincts. They’re trying to tell you something and it’s important.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2704015/
[2] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0011128720922539
[3] https://news.gallup.com/poll/391610/worry-crime-highest-level-2016.aspx