Not the pet wild elephant from the earlier post --different elephant. This one's about the elephant in the room.
You know the one: it's humongous, yet no one wants to address it. To address it would mean potentially being rude, or worse, what if it gets angry, or even worse, what if there's nothing that can be done about it. What if you are destined to have that elephant in the room with you taking up all the breathing space? What then?
I'm not sure, to be honest, but I do know that ignoring it doesn't make it go away. And what if you are rude? What if it gets angry? What if there's nothing that can be done about it (more on that in a moment)?
I do know from both personal and professional experience that the earlier the elephant is addressed, the better. Have I always confronted elephants? No. Not what I meant by having experienced it. I have both confronted elephants head on and avoided them, and I know based on that experience, it's better to confront --better yet, ask nicely and firmly if it would please move --early and clearly. It's a much less stuffy room after that.
What if you confront the elephant in the room and nothing changes? Perhaps the elephant is comfortable. Perhaps the elephant is too large. Perhaps (worst case scenario) the elephant is on a power trip and enjoys causing you discomfort.
In that situation, I say this: elephants are mortal, too.
What you lack in size, make up for in numbers --seek help.
Tenacity and sheer stubbornness can be helpful, as well.
Do not get bogged down in the idea that the situation will never change because situations always change, so combine your diligence with patience (sometimes things don't change as quickly as you'd like!).
When you find a strategy that seems to work, stick with it; adapt as needed, but not so much that you can't figure out what about it was helpful.
And every little bit counts. You can get a trunk through the door today? Well, okay then! Shift that trunk.
I used words like 'confront' in there. If it is a case of an elephant who is willing to work with you, honor that and use compassion in the process, both towards yourself and towards the elephant. But those mean elephants? You know the ones I'm talking about. 'Confront' is the appropriate word. Show compassion afterwards.
And speaking of compassion, I'll try to avoid using elephants as stand-ins for things humans have trouble with in future blog posts --not that I'll be ignoring them, but you know what I mean.