Intuition is a powerful tool that can focus your strength.
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It’s my experience that most men consider themselves creatures of logic. And I’m a pretty logical guy for the most part. But let’s not overlook male intuition.
Intuition is a powerful tool. And at 39, I’m only now discovering its true power. And I’d like to encourage men out there to start trusting their gut. Male intuition is real.
I first learned of this power when I was not even fifteen years old. A quick story:
March 1st, 1992 was one of the darkest days in my family’s history. But it didn’t start out that way. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The weather was spectacular – sunny and 70 degrees. My fifteenth birthday was in less than two weeks.
My dad and I went fishing on the Black Warrior River near Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I remember this day so very well.
About 3:30 that afternoon I had the weirdest feeling hit me. I can’t explain it. I thought I was about to fall out of the back of the boat. This wasn’t physical. It was all mental. I didn’t understand it.
Later that night we get word that my grandfather – Melborn Ivey – had passed away of a sudden heart attack at 74. Granddaddy was awarded the Purple Heart during the battle of Guadalcanal after he took a Japanese bullet to the left bicep. He came back and became quite successful in agriculture and real estate. He accomplished all this – as well as being dad to three kids – with only a fifth-grade education. Granddaddy was also one of the greatest storytellers I ever knew and is one of the biggest reasons why I’m a writer today.
To put it simply, he’s one of my biggest heroes.
Granddaddy had gone down to confront some people trespassing on his property. We don’t know exactly when he died, but the medical examiner estimated he passed away around 3:30 that afternoon.
Right about the time I almost fell out of the boat.
The word “empath” has always been kind of a mysterious one to me. Before I understood what it meant, here are the kinds of people I’d associate with that word. I’d think of this light and airy woman who was obsessed with yoga. She’d have an affinity for crystals and would post mysterious motivational quotes on her Instagram. The pictures of which would usually be either yoga or crystal related.
As a sensitive kid, I could pick up on the energy and feelings in a room better than most. In fact, I’d take on those feelings and emotions and not even know it.
But sensitive boys are usually met with scorn, ridicule, and bullying. And man was I no exception!
I’ve always been an energy sponge. To this day, crowds of people still drain me. Put me in a crowd of people who have gathered for a ballgame or a concert, I’m in heaven. Many thousands of people are under one roof for the same purpose. But as soon as the game is over, get me the heck out of there.
For the longest time, I thought it was only social anxiety that made me feel this way. I’m sure that’s part of it, but not the whole story.
The last concert that my dad and I went to before he passed away was Paul McCartney in October of 2014 at Atlanta’s Philips Arena. The show was truly a musical experience of a lifetime. Sir Paul – literal musical royalty – still plays a show close to three hours in his 70s. His voice doesn’t have the same punch that it did in his heyday, but the charisma, charm, and musicianship of Paul and his band made it a night I’ll never forget. And it didn’t hurt that I was there with my favorite music critic.
At this point in his life, dad had several health issues that affected his mobility. And nights like that we’d have to do a ton of walking. After the show, dad needed to get a little more energy before we started walking to the subway to take us back to our hotel.
As we finally started our way out of the arena, I had the most bizarre feeling come over me. My mind couldn’t stop racing. I felt like people were staring at me. And I was walking like a bat out of hell.
Dad couldn’t keep up so I had to slow down. But deep inside I was having a boiling panic attack. Too many people, too much energy.
When it happened, I rationalized this reaction because I was on painkillers after a bout of kidney stones. That wasn’t the only reason for the reaction.
Sensitive and intuitive guys – rejoice! There’s a world out there for us to grab. Let’s grab it and don’t let go!
If you’re a highly sensitive guy like myself, I’d love to create with you some ways to use that part of yourself to set the world on fire. Hit me up at [email protected] and we can get started. Or check out my website – team-ryan.team.
While at my website, go ahead and sign up for my coaching workshop – Coach Ryan’s Jedi Academy. Much more info can be found on my website.
Photo by olie svensson