Why Do We Recognise Ourselves in Animals?

. Why Do We Recognise Ourselves in Animals?

There is something fascinating about the way human beings have always looked to the animal world to help explain ourselves.

We describe people as being as brave as a lion, wise as an owl, busy as a bee, sly as a fox, stubborn as a mule or as gentle as a lamb. We talk about having the memory of an elephant, the energy of a puppy or the patience of a tortoise.

These expressions are so familiar that we rarely stop to consider why we use them.

Perhaps it is because animals allow us to talk about human behaviour without making the conversation too personal.

If I tell you that you are “stubborn”, you may not appreciate the observation. But if I suggest that you have some of the characteristics of a determined wombat who knows exactly where it wants to go, the conversation suddenly feels quite different.

The animal becomes a metaphor.

And metaphors can be powerful teachers.

For thousands of years, stories have used animals to represent qualities that humans recognise in themselves. Fables, myths, legends and children’s stories have all given animals human characteristics so that we can explore courage, fear, wisdom, greed, loyalty, persistence, cooperation and many other aspects of human nature.

Think about the familiar story of the tortoise and the hare.

The hare represents speed, confidence and spontaneity. The tortoise represents patience, persistence and determination. Neither is necessarily “better”. They simply approach the same challenge in very different ways.

The story becomes interesting because most of us can recognise something of ourselves in both characters.

There are times when we are the hare.

We act quickly. We trust our instincts. We become excited by possibilities and sometimes move before we have considered all the consequences.

At other times, we are more like the tortoise.

We prefer to take our time, consider the options and steadily work towards our goal.

This is one of the reasons animal metaphors can be so useful when exploring personality.

They give us a language for difference.

At AusIDentities, we use four familiar Australian animals—the Dolphin, Eagle, Kangaroo and Wombat—to help people explore different ways of seeing and responding to the world.

The animals aren’t intended to put people into boxes.

Quite the opposite.

They provide a simple way of beginning a conversation about the wonderful diversity of human beings.

The Dolphin can help us explore relationships, feelings and connection.

The Eagle can represent vision, ideas and the ability to see possibilities beyond what is immediately obvious.

The Kangaroo reflects action, energy and a practical willingness to get things moving.

The Wombat represents stability, structure, dependability and a grounded approach.

Most of us will recognise something of ourselves in all four.

That is important.

Understanding personality isn’t about deciding which animal is “best”. It is about recognising our natural preferences while learning to appreciate the strengths of people who may see the world differently.

Perhaps that is the real wisdom hidden within the animal stories that have been passed down through generations.

They remind us that there is more than one way to approach life.

Sometimes we need the vision of the Eagle.

Sometimes we need the heart of the Dolphin.

Sometimes we need the energy of the Kangaroo.

And sometimes we need the grounded wisdom of the Wombat.

The challenge is not to become a different animal.

It is to become sufficiently aware of ourselves that we can appreciate the animals—and the people—around us.

Because when we begin to understand our differences, we often discover that difference isn’t something to fear.

It is something from which we can learn.