How to Train an Elephant (book)

[Metaphysical Me]

Hi - this sounds like a great way to practice mindfulness during the day - and how cool that it can be done together.

I'd love to join in - whether you repeat the weekly topics of the book as of January, or choose a new list of tasks.

XXX Janey

[JonW]

Good point, Janey.
Maybe we could re-start the book.
Would anybody else be interested in going me and Janey on that?
Cheers, Jon

[Steve]

Hi Jon

Yes, it would be good to hear whether others might like to work through the book next year. You might have seen from my post a weeek or so back that I was wondering where to go with this next year. I've found working through the weekly chapters a good way to help keep up an ongoing practice in daily life.

I'd be interested to hear if others would like to do it next year and/or find another year long series of daily task that people can follow and, hopefully, share their experiences on here. I'm happy to participate but equally happy if others wish to suggest something else - the more ideas the merrier!

Steve

[Metaphysical Me]

Just out of curiosity - does the book at some point explain what the title means or what it's a reference to?

[Steve]

Hi Metaphysical Me

Yes, the title is based on how an elephant is trained - lots of repetition of simple things. Apparently, if a young elephant is tethered to a post until it learns that it cannot get away it will still not try to get away even when it has grown larger and is more than capable of pulling the post out of the ground.

The elephant is thus a metaphor for the mind; by making small changes, we can gradually learn to control our minds rather than letting them control us. The simple weekly mindfulness tasks we have been doing gradually help us become more mindful in daily life.

In addition, its been shown that continued practice actually changes our brains, eg so that a more relaxed, or a more positive or a more aware approach to life starts to become its natural tendency (counteracting the opposite tendencies evolution has left with us).

Steve

[FeeHutch]

I'd be really interested to read about how a new group of elephant trainers gets on in 2014

[Gareth]

Theoretically I'm interested, although my life is so busy that I am always nervous of taking something else on.

[Metaphysical Me]

Hi Metaphysical Me

Apparently, if a young elephant is tethered to a post until it learns that it cannot get away it will still not try to get away even when it has grown larger and is more than capable of pulling the post out of the ground.

The elephant is thus a metaphor for the mind; by making small changes, we can gradually learn to control our minds rather than letting them control us.

Ah, yep, I've heard that analogy before. That makes sense. Thanks for the explanation!

[Metaphysical Me]

Theoretically I'm interested, although my life is so busy that I am always nervous of taking something else on.

Oh gosh, yeah. I soooo can relate. I'm hoping to use mindfulness practice to "crowd the other stuff out", actually.

[Steve]

Don't forget that the weekly practices are intended to help you be mindful in your everyday life; they should not therefore require any extra time. This week we're being aware of the stomach - we just have to remember to tune into the feelings/messages the stomach is sending and to notice them. This doesn't really take time it just means being on autopilot a bit less and being aware of the present moment a bit more.

Reading the chapters is easy, probably about 5 minutes a week. I usually do this before I get out of bed on a Sunday. Of course, if you want to share your experiencesand thoughts on this forum it takes a few minutes to do this (and more reading other people's posts). I find that this enriches the experience considerably. It not only forces you to articulate your own thoughts but you learn from others too. On top of this, the shared experience is a great motivator. If I was doing this on my own and not posting with Fee and others, there is a much greater probablility I would have let it fall by the wayside some time during the year. As it is we're talking about continuing for another year.

Steve