The Elephant and the Rider - Isabella Ferre guest blog
We all have issues and areas in our life we need to change - from work-related issues to eating habits. Yet, executing a lifestyle change usually ends in draining defeat. Why is it so hard to change? Understanding this human phenomenon will allow you to overcome your future obstacles with poise. A couple of days ago, my father enlightened me with the “Elephant and the Rider” metaphor that impacted me enough to write a blog about it.
Close your eyes and imagine yourself riding an elephant. You hold the reigns. As the rider, you are in control of the elephant. But do not let your perceived dominance fool you. Clearly, you are no match for a seven-ton animal. If your elephant does not want to listen, you are out of luck and there is nothing you can do about it.
Our mind can be described in the same manner: our rational side is the rider and our emotional side is the elephant. We have all experienced the power of the elephant in our lives, as in, when you skipped the gym out of laziness, blurted impulsive comments, or even spent hours on Facebook instead of working. We have all experienced moments when our emotions overpowered our reason.
The key to change is creating a fluid, symbiotic relationship between both elephant and rider. As the authors of Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard notes,
“ Changes often fail because the Rider simply can’t keep the Elephant on the road long enough to reach the destination. The Elephant’s hunger for instant gratification is the opposite of the Rider’s strength, which is the ability to think long-term, to plan, to think beyond the moment (all those things that your pet can’t do.) … To make progress toward a goal, whether it’s noble or crass, requires the energy and drive of the Elephant. And this strength is the mirror image of the Rider’s great weakness: spinning his wheels. The Rider tends to overanalyze and over think things. … A reluctant Elephant and a wheel-spinning Rider can both ensure nothing changes. But when Elephants and Riders move together, change can come easily.”
So how do we change? The rider must strategize a clear path that keeps the elephant moving. If you want change, you must create clear and focused goals. You must also have passion and enthusiasm for change or you will fail due to the elephant’s inability to stay on track. The elephant is what will get you from Point A to Point B, so you must keep the elephant motivated.
Path Towards Effective Change:
- Define your goals (Rider)
- Get Excited for change. Stay motivated (Elephant)
- Stay focused by creating minor goals that lead up to your ultimate goal. If not, your emotions will stray you off course. (The reason 95% of diets fail)
Isabella Ferre is a senior at Williams College, majoring in psychology. She is a native of Miami, Florida where she is currently interning for Ellipsis Advisors and Ashoka.
Close your eyes and imagine yourself riding an elephant. You hold the reigns. As the rider, you are in control of the elephant. But do not let your perceived dominance fool you. Clearly, you are no match for a seven-ton animal. If your elephant does not want to listen, you are out of luck and there is nothing you can do about it.
Our mind can be described in the same manner: our rational side is the rider and our emotional side is the elephant. We have all experienced the power of the elephant in our lives, as in, when you skipped the gym out of laziness, blurted impulsive comments, or even spent hours on Facebook instead of working. We have all experienced moments when our emotions overpowered our reason.
The key to change is creating a fluid, symbiotic relationship between both elephant and rider. As the authors of Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard notes,
“ Changes often fail because the Rider simply can’t keep the Elephant on the road long enough to reach the destination. The Elephant’s hunger for instant gratification is the opposite of the Rider’s strength, which is the ability to think long-term, to plan, to think beyond the moment (all those things that your pet can’t do.) … To make progress toward a goal, whether it’s noble or crass, requires the energy and drive of the Elephant. And this strength is the mirror image of the Rider’s great weakness: spinning his wheels. The Rider tends to overanalyze and over think things. … A reluctant Elephant and a wheel-spinning Rider can both ensure nothing changes. But when Elephants and Riders move together, change can come easily.”
So how do we change? The rider must strategize a clear path that keeps the elephant moving. If you want change, you must create clear and focused goals. You must also have passion and enthusiasm for change or you will fail due to the elephant’s inability to stay on track. The elephant is what will get you from Point A to Point B, so you must keep the elephant motivated.
Path Towards Effective Change:
- Define your goals (Rider)
- Get Excited for change. Stay motivated (Elephant)
- Stay focused by creating minor goals that lead up to your ultimate goal. If not, your emotions will stray you off course. (The reason 95% of diets fail)
Isabella Ferre is a senior at Williams College, majoring in psychology. She is a native of Miami, Florida where she is currently interning for Ellipsis Advisors and Ashoka.
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