The metaphors you use are a doorway to your inner world

Step into a world of possibility

Metaphor is a part of everyday communication between people. Frequently, we use expressions like ‘a glass half full or empty’ or ‘time is of the essence’ or even things like ‘that shirt is to die for’.

You may find it interesting that the things we say are very closely related to the way we process our thoughts and how much they affect the way we experience the world around us.

To some people, ‘life is a struggle’ to some ‘life is a journey’ and to some ‘life is a game’. These are all metaphors about the way people experience the world, and at times they can be generative and at times not so much.

Be aware of the metaphors you use

Becoming aware of the metaphors we use to communicate the way we are experiencing a specific situation is the first step towards generating more options in our behaviour.

If somebody can shift from an experience where ‘life is full of pain and struggle’ to experiencing a ‘life full of lessons’, which one do you think will generate more positive emotions in them?

Exceptionally effective people are aware of this pattern of communication, whether consciously or unconsciously, and they put it to use at every opportunity.

Here are some examples:

“Business opportunities are like buses, there is always another one coming”
– Richard Branson

“An eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind”
– Mahatma Gandhi

“Boil things down to fundamental truths and reason up from there”
– Elon Musk, co-founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla Motors.

“My Brain and my heart are my temples”
– The Dalai Lama

Having read this, can you get an idea of how exceptional human beings might process their thinking and live their lives? It can give you a clearer idea of where they place their attention.

You turn

Now it’s your turn. Try it for yourself.

My life is/can be/will be like __________

So now you know what to do if you ever find yourself describing your life as a ‘glass half empty’ or as a ‘battlefield’. Remember, you can always change what happens inside your head, and that will be reflected in the feedback you receive from the world.

Learn more about NLP by reading our Ultimate Compendium of NLP

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