Humans are creatures who think and communicate in stories and images.
For our brains, it’s so much easier and more efficient to think in those ways. And metaphors are a way of combining the two, allowing us to quickly grasp new ideas by comparing them to familiar ones.
For our hearts and souls, we’re way more likely to be inspired and moved to action by the richness of images and metaphors (and stories) than we are by facts and concepts alone.
So it makes sense then why metaphor and imagery are so integrated into our lives — and are at the heart of some of our deepest experiences.
Pay close attention to the way you talk about things, and you’ll quickly discover that you are constantly using the language of imagery and metaphor…
“I see what you’re saying.”
“I’ve got to fight that temptation.”
“I’m ready to plow forward with this.”
“I feel myself entering a new chapter.”
So often, we’re not even aware of how much our thoughts and feelings — and therefore our actions — are driven by the implicit metaphors we use and the images we’re exposed to, whether they come from within us or from our external environment.
When we become conscious of them, we can make more intentional choices — including the decision to change our perspectives to ones that lift and free us.
We can also strategically harness the energy of metaphors and imagery to keep ourselves focused on, inspired by, and moving toward the things that matter most to us.
And of course, imagery and metaphor can also be doorways that allow us to explore life and our own selves more deeply, offering us new levels of meaning and insight.
We’ll be exploring some rich territory this month — and powerful vehicles. I’m looking forward to taking this journey together.
(See what I just did there? Metaphor is almost unavoidable!)