Ripple effect -17
Mrs. Ramya Sethu Ram M.E
“We see the world not as it is, but as we are.” – Anaïs Nin
A group of blind men once met an elephant for the first time. Each touched a different part and described what they thought it was. One felt the leg and said, “It’s like a pillar.” Another held the tail and said, “It’s a rope.” A third touched the trunk and claimed, “It’s a snake.” The ear felt like a fan, the tusk like a spear, and the side like a wall.
Each believed their version was the truth. And in a way, they were right — but none of them saw the whole.
This simple story holds a powerful message. As people, we often see only a part of reality, yet assume we understand the entire picture. What we notice depends on where we stand, what we feel, and what we expect to find. Our perception is shaped by emotion, experience, and attention — often without us realising it.
This plays out quietly in everyday life. A friend cancels a plan, doesn’t reply to messages, and seems distant. It feels hurtful. Thoughts rush in: “They don’t care anymore,” or “They always make excuses.” But perhaps there is more to the story. Maybe that friend is feeling very tired — not the kind of tired that rest can fix. Perhaps their heart is
heavy, but they don’t know how to talk about it. Maybe they’re going through sadness, fear, or silent struggle. They didn’t mean to hurt anyone. They simply didn’t have the strength to explain.
Here, two people are both experiencing something real. One feel rejected. The other feels overwhelmed. Neither is wrong. But both are holding only part of the truth — just like the blind men and the elephant.
In today’s world, this story becomes even more relevant. With the rise of social media, our understanding of people is often built on brief glimpses — a photo, a caption, a status update. We scroll, we judge, we conclude.
A smiling selfie is assumed to mean happiness. A lack of posts is taken as disinterest. A vacation photo might spark envy, without knowing the stress that came before it. One comment out of context can lead to misunderstanding, anger, or even cancellation.
What we see online is often the highlight — not the whole story. The filters are not just on the photos, but also on the emotions. People post what they feel safe sharing. What they don’t share might be the part that matters most.
Yet, we often treat these fragments as the full elephant. We form opinions. We make judgments. And we forget to pause and ask: What might be their side of the story?
This limited view creates distance between people, even when they’re digitally close. It becomes easier to label than to understand. Easier to react than to reflect.
But the truth — like the elephant — is never fully visible from one angle. It reveals itself slowly, when we listen, when we ask, when we choose to see beyond what is immediately shown.
This parable reminds us to step back from fast conclusions. To hold space for what we cannot see. To realise that someone’s silence, someone’s post, or someone’s mistake is just a part — not the whole.
Understanding grows not in certainty, but in curiosity. It takes humility to say, “Maybe I’m only seeing one part.” It takes empathy to ask, “What is it like for you?” And it takes patience to see the full picture — with respect and care!
Truth is not always loud or obvious. Sometimes, it lives in someone else’s silence. And often, it takes all of us — together — to truly see the shape of the elephant.
