Hi and welcome to my brain!!!! after this weekends slot on how story and metaphor helps to build rapport, and facilitate subtle change in any unhelpful way of viewing the world; I cannot help but see that almost everything can be used as a helpful metaphor. I am now going to unload a few that are zooming around my head.

While I was out running yesterday evening (yes I am up to about 30 minutes now in prep for the half-marathon in May) I was drawn to a halt because of the extraordinary gleaming orange light that the setting sun was casting on the water, the nights are gradually getting longer and the changing of the seasons easily lend themselves to a natural ending of one phase and the beginning of another. The movement of the sun as it from our view only to appear to others eyes on some distant horizon………………………well I will leave that one to your interpretation

• The windy stormy weather that we had, well storms blow over just like tough time
• clearing a garden of weeds and dead wood…………getting rid of what is no longer useful
• the tides that comes on to the shore and washes away the old patterns and footprints…..a clean canvas remains
• ideas can be like seeds left in the ground till just the right time to manifest
• an open door….an opportunity

In fact you can not escape metaphor; we all use it to convey something that if explained logically would be a little long winded or difficult. Metaphor appeals to the part of the mind that sees the bigger picture, concepts and therefore can by pass logical resistance to new more helpful insights or understanding.

When you use someone else’s metaphors, you can talk in their terms it really helps to build empathy. and you will be much better positioned to help extend their metaphors to fill in gaps in knowledge or see a situation in a more beneficial way.

i heard someone mention that George lucas’s Star Wars films were a huge metaphor for our lives………and if said a certain way ‘may the force be with you’ - meta force????

So before my cup over flows any more I will put a lid on this blog, move the goal posts and ………..

Jill