posted 02-27-2002 12:36 AM               

Your instincts. Are you in tune with them, or do you ignore them? Since we've all been raised in this AFC world, you might just forget to recognize them anymore since they've been beaten out of us since childhood.. The hot chick who sits next to you in class everyday, the cute cashier who can't make eye contact, or the friend of a friend who seems intent on talking to you even though you havent even been introduced yet. These are the times that your gut serves you best.

Here is an exercise to teach you, the aspring DJ, to get in touch with your instincts next time they are called into question: Flip a coin.

You've got two choices; lets say Burger King is heads, and Taco Bell is tails. <Flip>. What did you end up with? Tails? How do you feel about that? Maybe you really wanted to hit up BK for another whopper, even though it would be your third one today. That's your instinct at work! You're disappointed about going to Taco Bell. Your gut says "no, I still want that damn whopper", even though the coin toss should have decided it. Your disappointment is actually your true feeling, the other side of the coin was your brain telling you to make the rational decision and change it up a little. Insert your own choices and flip the coin a couple of times a week to see what the difference is between what you want and what you should do. You'll be amazed at how much you find out about yourself.

<instinct>
"Damn, that girl is hot! Why is she sitting by herself? Maybe I should go up and introduce myself, she did make eye contact with me twice."

<rational thought>
"Nah, I bet she's got a boyfriend who will show up any minute. I'll just sit and wait for a while to see what happens."

An hour goes by and no boyfriend. She leaves, looking at you one more time, and you're smacking yourself for not going through with your original plan. That symbolic last look was your instinct getting kicked in the ass by self-preservation.

Your first feeling is almost always right, your first thought is almost always to the contrary. Learn to listen to that little voice that shouts "Yes, touch her leg!" or "Yes, ask for her number!" before your thought process can get a hold of it and beat it into submission. Sometimes these two are in harmony, but by the time everyone agrees, it's usually too late. Sort of like the United Nations.

The moment is now. No one ever made a scrapbook filled with things they could have done. If you had to choose between the greatest critic and the best mentor to spend the next lifetime with, which would you go with? I thought so. Never ignore your own internal mentor, he's the best ally you'll ever have.

posted 02-27-2002 04:35 AM               

Thanks!

posted 02-28-2002 08:08 PM            

It could also be said that AFC traits aree just like those other negative habits, which is why is is like paddling upstream for so many guys to go for the gold.

posted 02-28-2002 10:32 PM            

Flip a coin: Heads, you talk to her, tails you cower in the corner. It's tails? Your instincts, which tell you what you know you should be doing, will give you that nagging feeling, because you know deep down you picked the wrong option. But the wrong option may be your habit. Ignore your habits. Do what's right.

This is very interesting because I've done the coin flip many times, and I've gone with whatever side came up. What I really should have been doing was to go with the feeling I got from the result of the coin flip.

Thanks, Powertrip. Excellent post.

posted 03-06-2002 02:48 AM               

If I hadn't followed that 'instinct' every once in a while, I wouldn't be where I am today. A little repetative, but excellent post, Powertrip.