Storm clouds over Highway 395.
The Monkey Trap
I’ve heard that in parts of India, a surprisingly simple technique is used to trap otherwise hard to trap monkeys.
What they do is cut a hole in the top of a coconut, just large enough for a monkey’s hand to fit through. Then they use a rope to secure the coconut to a tree. The final step is to place a big ball of rice inside the coconut—that’s the bait.
Inevitably a monkey discovers the rice, squeezes their hand into the coconut and grabs a big handful of irresistible rice. What good fortune!
The problem is, an empty hand can squeeze into spaces that a full hand cannot. So when a monkey grabs a handful of rice, their hand becomes trapped inside the coconut; and it remains trapped for as long as they continue to hold the rice.
If they dropped the rice they’d be free, but that’s not how monkey brains work. They are so transfixed on the relatively minor detail of rice, that they aren’t capable of recognizing that it’s actually costing them their freedom.
Whether this story is true or not, I cannot say. Nor does it really matter, as the analogy it creates is where the value is. I’m certain that all of us, in some way, are that monkey; stuck somewhere, clinging onto something that we can’t seem to let go of. So focused on that whatever, that we can’t see the bigger picture and the huge price the clinging is costing us.
When I turn this inward and ask myself what I’m clinging to, a few answers emerge surprisingly fast; as if, inside, I’ve known the answers all along and just had to ask the question. Every single one of them would be extremely challenging to drop. But every single one of them, if dropped, would undeniably improve my life.
And I’m nervous knowing what that means.
“Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.”
-Mandy Hale
Sidenote: I’ve heard this Monkey Trap analogy before, but I recently heard it again during a beautiful conversation between Rich Roll and the happiness scientist, Arthur C. Brooks. I knew instantly that I wanted to write about it. If you’d like to listen to their conversation, I’ve provided the link towards the bottom of this page. I found their entire conversation extremely valuable. If you do listen, please let me know how you liked it.
Cheers!
-JS
