The Crab Effect is a part of our lives, even though we may not be aware of it.
We’ve been pumped full of fear since childhood. As we grow we continue to take in the bad news on social media, books and films. It’s become part of our social conditioning and we don’t realize that it’s happening. Sadly, we become crabby.
Real Grouchy Examples
For instance, what would your reaction be to someone you really cared about and deeply loved when they told you the following things:
- I’m taking out a personal loan to work on my own startup
- I’m quitting my secure, full-time job to become a wildlife photographer
- I’m picking up mountain climbing as a hobby
When we watch a loved one take a leap of faith, our reaction is to question, “Is that a good idea?” “Is that safe?” “Are you delusional?”
Sadly, it’s a natural reaction because it’s how we are conditioned to behave.
Crabs in a Bowl
It’s known as the Crab Effect. If you’ve ever cooked crabs during the summer you know exactly what I’m talking about.
When doing the prep work, you put a bunch of crabs in a bowl. If one of them tries to climb out, the rest of the crabs pull the climbing crab back down instead of pushing him out of the bowl. No wonder they are called crabs.
Imagine how different our world would be if we could become less crab-like?
There’s a lot of lip service to the idea that anything is possible. Think about all of the posters in your childhood bedroom with inspirational quotes and pretty pictures of landscapes and sunsets.
The minute you actually go and try something new and open-minded, a lot of alarm bells go off. The feeling of being afraid is real, but the real fear is all made up because it hasn’t happened yet. You haven’t died, gone bankrupt, or lost your camera.
If you’d like to chat about crabs, fears, or anything else, feel free to set up a complimentary consultation.