The Wisdom of Elephants
When facing a choice ask yourself
“What would the elephants do?”
Elephant species have survived on the planet for 55 million years. Whereas our ancestors have walked the earth for only 6 million. You might say, elephants have every right to declare, “We were here first, we’ve learned a thing or two about survival, taking care of the planet, and getting along with others.” Elephants have similar social structures to humans and show clear signs of emotional intelligence. When dealing with interpersonal conflict, raising families, and caring for the earth we would be wise to consider “What would the elephants do?”
Stay open, stay curious.
Elephants are curious and intelligent. An elephant’s brain is 3x larger than ours with more neurons—257 million fibers to our mere 86 million. Curiosity is a sign of open-mindedness and an antidote to judgement and criticism. When we are curious the ground is set for innovation and creativity.
It takes a village to raise a child.
Female elephants are attentive mothers and share the responsibility of raising their offspring with their relatives. Siblings, aunts, and nannies protect and love the youngsters in a herd. These caring relationships teach life lessons about compassion and empathy as well as how to survive under difficult conditions. Just like in human relationships, a secure parental attachment is the best predictor of resilience and recovery from trauma later in life.
Make time for play, it fuels the imagination and reduces stress.
Elephants play. Play helps develop brains, dexterity, as well as physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play creates a safe space for experimentation and invention. As one friend reminds me, “When we’re laughing, we can’t be crying.” When we are happy the body can relax and recover from stress.
Learn the skill of patience, it increases tolerance and empathy.
Elephants are patient—they move at the pace of their youngest member in the herd. The whole group will wait as babies rest. Patience facilitates an atmosphere of peace and calm which is optimal for learning and creating a sense of safety and trust.
Share your joy and happiness.
Elephants love to celebrate. They greet friends and family with affectionate touch and joyful sounds. Joy connects us to others and combats loneliness. Being recognized in a group builds self-esteem and confidence.
Share your grief and loss. Take solace in community.
Elephants grieve. When an elephant dies, the community comes together to mourn the loss. When we bear witness to our pain and receive support in community, healing and recovery are made possible.
Everything has an impact on nature.
Elephants are a keystone species—they have a disproportionately large effect on the environment and are critical to maintaining a healthy balance in nature. Many of our choices threaten the survival of elephants and consequently entire ecosystems. For example, avocado farming is encroaching on wildlife corridors in Amboseli Kenya. We need to educate ourselves about the impacts of our consumption on the environment. When we make informed choices, we can take better care of the planet and each other.
Ask yourself—What would the elephants do? What is the kinder more inclusive choice? What is best for many not just a select few? What will protect the environment so there is a future for all of us? We can make a difference. Nature provides excellent guidance.
Thank you for reading. Support conservation efforts by purchasing a throw pillow featuring one of my photographs. And every purchase of a wildlife-inspired piece in my full store helps charitable organizations doing valuable conservation work across the planet.
