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First, a Google search ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=elephant+and+rider+haidt
... so if you're a video watcher, you can find videos. If you're a webblog reader, you can find blogs. If you're a /r/loseit reader, you can just stay here and read what I'm about to type.
I think we all can appreciate the internal battle we are having when we're trying to lose weight. We've decided to do it, but at the same time we notice that our behavior isn't "all in" in our decision.
At first, maybe our emotions and intentions were totally aligned. We enthusiastically cleared out the pantry and fridge of all the bad foods. We are doing this!! This time it's going to be different.
Later, we're searching for snacks in the couch cushions.
For most of us -- the decision to lose weight was and is still a valid, rational decision. Maybe we've been obese for years. Maybe we've just outgrown our work clothes and are trying to get back to size. If you can articulate your reason in a way that your doctor won't shake his head at you, then your reason was likely rational. But inside ourselves is another side of our psychology.
My own metaphor is that our brain can be thought of like a household with a calm, rational parent and a lovable, emotional child. Our child brings the joy to birthdays and holidays, sees the wonder of the universe in a beautiful flower, and is afraid of thunder. The calm rational parent loves the child, and is raising the child to maturity. When the child is afraid, the parent isn't angry because the child needs to be again reminded that thunder is only noise. So we shouldn't be annoyed when we also have to remind ourselves that the good habits of eating right and being active need actual deeds in order to keep up.
The rider and the elephant is another analogy by Jonathan Haidt, a psychologist, author, and lecturer. He explains the the rider being in control of the elephant is sometimes true, and sometimes illusion. But existing, learning, and training together the team becomes a symbiotic and virtuous partnership that becomes productive.
This is not a new concept, so there's plenty online on the Rider and the Elephant -- I encourage you to do the search on your favorite media: podcasts, videos, blogs. Haidt is an author and has many books out -- your local library is a great resource for physical, ebooks, and audiobooks.
Understanding how to work cooperatively and productively with our rational and emotional sides together will get us further down the road.
♂55 5'11/179㎝ SW:298℔/135㎏ CW:183℔/83㎏ [3Y AMA], [1Y recap] MyFitnessPal+Walks🚶Hikes+TOPS
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