TM4T Stress Armoury 44 - Thinking Metaphors

The idea here is that we prepare ourselves for the worst: a situation in which we just can't think. When this happens, it is useful to have a metaphor to focus on: a simple idea which calms us down and allows us to re-start our thinking. Here are some well-thumbed examples, but I am sure you can think of your own...

The Bus Driver

All of my thoughts, feelings, doubts, beliefs and me are passengers on the bus. Shouting directions, criticising the route, and arguing with each other. In this metaphor, I don't join in the argument; I just climb into the driving seat and drive the bus. I don't try to stop the shouting, I just ignore the passengers. I'm the driver.

The Beach Ball

Sometimes I try desperately to calm down, but I can't, I just can't, my thoughts and emotions keep coming back. I just think of them as a beach ball. I try to calm down, but think of trying to push a beach ball under water, but it just pops up again. This always makes me smile. Then I just let the ball float around. It's not going to hurt me - it's a beach ball, for crying out loud.

The Train

Sometimes I just mentally get on a train, and instead of being part of the scenery (the scenery is all the doubts and fears and worries) I can just watch it go by, it all passes away eventually, and I can't really hear much. I'm kind of insulated in a comfortable compartment.

The Alpine Tunnel

When you are in the tunnel there really aren't any options, regardless of how bad the weather, or what you may have seen before you entered the tunnel. There is no turning back, and no staying put. You just have to keep driving. There is always an end to the tunnel.

The Marathon

I've done a lot of running and I know a particular feeling well. The 'No, this is too tough' feeling. I know that I will get this feeling during a long run, but that it will pass, I can just shrug it off. When things get tough, I kind of recreate that feeling: simultaneously thinking that I can't cope, but also knowing that I can really.

The Mountain.

Whatever the weather, whatever the season, the mountain remains immovable, set, strong, firm, and utterly grounded. I like to see myself like that: observing thoughts, feelings, sensations passing over me like travellers on a mountain, but I am the mountain, strong and unchanging.

The Lift

This is a real lift, or pair of lifts,  in a building I used to know. I liked to envisage putting niggling ideas and worries and problems in one lift, going down to the basement, while I got in the other and headed for the roof. On the roof I would perform. The ideas and so on were still there - the lift always came back up - but for a while I was absolutely separate from them.