“It’s easy to judge. It’s more difficult to understand. Understanding requires compassion, and a willingness to believe that good hearts sometimes choose poor methods. Through judging, we separate. Through understanding, we grow.”

Doe Zantamata 

Inspired by the animal metaphors used by Marshall Rosenberg, founder of Nonviolent Communication, the giraffe and jackal symbolise certain ways of thinking, behaving and communicating.

The giraffe represents how we show up in the world when we are connected with the inner compassionate nature that Rosenberg believed is our natural state of being. The jackal symbolises disconnection from that natural state.

Jackal thoughts, actions and language are often the result of learned, habitual responses to events. Giraffe thoughts, action and language come from being present in the moment and making a conscious choice to connect (with self and others) from a place of empathy.

Jackals evaluate and make moralistic judgements (both ‘positive’ and ‘negative’.) Their language is coercive, demanding, criticising, analysing and blaming. This is the type of language that tends to provoke defensive, aggressive or guilty responses in others.

Giraffes observe and listen rather than judge and evaluate. They separate the facts from their opinions. Their language is compassionate and honest, communicating from the heart and seeking connection and clarity. Giraffe language is unifying, whereas jackal language is alienating.

We all have a jackal and a giraffe inside us - they each serve to alert us to our needs and whether or not these have been met. In any given situation, we may choose to listen to and respond from either our jackal or our giraffe. 

All humans have needs – both physical and abstract. Whether our needs are met or remain unmet, we will have an associated emotional response which in turn triggers a thought which will then result in an action. Needs (and our responses to them) will vary from person to person and from moment to moment.

Understanding and identifying the connection between our needs, feelings, thoughts and actions enables us to more readily access our inner giraffe.

To find out more, click on the links below.

The Jackal 

We all have an inner jackal. Learning to identify our jackal thoughts and feelings enables us to choose whether or not to respond from our jackal or giraffe in any given moment.

Click on the link below to find out how to spot your own inner jackal.