When we try to get away from emotional hurt, the pain may tighten up on us, just like this childhood novelty. Sometimes the struggle to change what we are feeling can make things worse, not better. Our life narrows down to a focus on what’s painful. We tell stories about it, and worry about it, and justify it, and explain it, and all we get for our troubles is more, not less, pain. But when we lean into our discomfort, as when we gently press our index fingers into the finger trap, we create some space.
Imagine a feeling, any feeling or emotion. How long will it last? Imagine a pendulum. The higher you lift it in one direction, the more power you give it to swing up on the other side. You will perhaps notice its weight and resistance even more when you let it go. It is the same with feelings –…
When you go home today, what do you expect to find in your mailbox? Bills, advertisements, junk mail, maybe a letter. How do you sort through to decide which mail needs follow up and which is considered junk? I have to look at it, and decide what is important. How do you know what is…
Room full of Duct Tape Based on a metaphor submitted to ACBS by Philippe Vuille Picture your life as a room. One day you notice that a pipe near the ceiling in a corner is dripping. The sound of the falling drops makes you nervous and you’d like to get rid of it. So you repair…
Life as a cycling race Based on a metaphor submitted to ACBS by Philippe Vuille In a way, life is like a cycling race. We are all pedaling and we wear shirts with words written on them. In French they say “Vous roulez pour qui ? ” that translates literally as “for whom do you travel…
Leeches Based on a metaphor submitted to ACBS by svenjaw Many years ago, a friend of mine had the unfortunate experience of a leech attaching to her leg. Our first intuition was to rip the leech off; however this could have caused toxic leech vomit to enter her system. Even though it was not easy…