Vince Poscente wrote a book, “The Ant and the Elephant,” a parable with the ant representing the conscious mind, and the elephant representing the unconscious mind. The obvious implication and preponderance of evidence is that the unconscious mind is in control, and the ant (conscious mind) takes us wherever the elephant (the unconscious mind) wants to go. I, personally, see myself doing behaviors that I would consciously prefer I not do. I work on programming the unconscious mind. I also look toward the behaviors of animals for clues to my own and other people’s behavior. For instance, I walk 2 dogs. One dog is big, pulls me along where HE wants to go. (He needs better training, I know.) But, in the end, he is the most loving animal Soul I know. He is, true to his nature, a male dog, marking his territory. At the same time, I know he adores me and would stand between me and any danger. The other dog is a small, but dominate female. She is a biter, so I handle with care. She appears to see the world as a hostile environment, and will take on any dog that threatens her dominance, no matter the size. I see counterparts of both animals in human behavior.
What do you think, is the ant or the elephant in charge? Do people, like animals have different personality makeups that make them either peaceful lovers or competitive dominators?
Whatever our nature, how do we learn to all get along together?
