There’s this concept in architecture that is called the elephant path. The best way to describe it is to show you.
An elephant path is a route that human behavior prioritizes even when an alternative exists. This path is usually undefined and becomes more substantial through repetition and ease of use by us humans.
In the picture above, there is a lovely staircase. Clear of any debris. Guard rails. An open platform at the top and the bottom of it. It looks to even drop off any stair users right at the top of a crosswalk.
But that doesn’t matter. Humans have decided that the path up through the grassy berm on the side of the staircase is the more optimal travel route from point A to point B.
It’s not to say that the paths were wrong. But they were not the easiest. There was a preferred shortcut that the path walkers decided on time and time again, enough to scar the green landscape and create our elephant path. Stomping down the original design to whatever was easiest.
This is human nature. The path of least resistance. We will always. always. always. choose that until we make the conscious decision not to.
That is where most of us get held up. We will always choose comfort.
Sleeping in late > working out early
Enjoying the whole slice of cake > saving some for later
Mindlessly scrolling > intentionally reading
I can keep going…
But you get the picture. You get it because it’s what you’re living in. It’s the rinse and repeat directions that you find yourself falling into. Your elephant path.
The path you’ll choose every time by your nature until you make the conscious effort to stop it.
And then we get to work to realize that the comfortable parts of what we were doing become a hindrance. They don’t land us at point B.
Unless we consciously make the decision and effort to
Except when it comes to goals, the easiest default we allow ourselves to fall into will never deliver us to point B. It will keep us stuck in the same behaviors, habits, and hangups we’re trying to escape.
We must make ourselves uncomfortable to experience growth and adopt new habits. It’s not going to come easily or without resistance.
If you’re ready to face that discomfort head-on…you’re ready for my “do it uncomfortable” challenge. 2 weeks of daily inspo, workshopping, and coaching delivered right to your inbox or Substack app.