The Day I Realized We’re All Walking Metaphors
Every time our mind wanders, it lands on objects—a river, a bridge, a flickering candle. At first, I dismissed it as random noise. But day by day, patterns emerged. The woman who always sat cross-legged near the window? She felt like a rooted tree. The man who organized everyone’s shoes? A bridge between chaos and order. Me? I was a lantern—bright but fragile, casting light but wary of the dark.
That’s when it hit me: We are all living metaphors.
How to Find Your Universal Metaphor
Let’s get practical. Here’s the exercise—no spirituality required, just curiosity:
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Start as an Explorer
Forget chakras, zodiac signs, or personality tests. Begin with this truth: You’re already navigating life. What’s your style?-
Do you charge ahead like a river?
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Do you hold space like a stone?
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Do you connect like a bridge?
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Map Your Energy (Without Naming It)
I’ve adapted the seven chakras into universal metaphors anyone can feel: -
Let Your Metaphor Guide You
When I embraced being a lantern, I stopped resenting my sensitivity. Light is meant to illuminate. A friend who chose bridge realized why she felt drained at parties: she’d been overconnecting others, not herself.
| Core Human Experience | Your Metaphor | Ask Yourself: |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | Foundation | “What grounds me when life shakes?” |
| Creativity | Stream | “Where does my energy flow naturally?” |
| Confidence | Torch | “What makes me feel unapologetically me?” |
| Connection | Bridge | “Who or what do I bring together?” |
| Expression | Voice | “What truth have I been avoiding saying aloud?” |
| Insight | Lens | “What patterns do I see others miss?” |
| Wonder | Sky | “What mysteries keep me awake at night?” |
Why This Works When Spirituality Doesn’t Stick
I’ve told this to atheists. It works because:
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It’s tactile: A stone, a flame, a stream—these exist in every culture.
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It’s fluid: You’re not boxed into a label. Today’s torch might become tomorrow’s bridge.
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It’s self-healing: My friend Miguel, a war survivor, chose clay—“I’m shaped by fire but still moldable.”
When No Metaphor Fits, Invent Your Own
Last week, a friend asked, “What if I don’t resonate with any metaphor?” I handed her a blank page. “Draw your own.” She sketched a knot—“I’m tangled, but I hold things together.”So I’ll ask you: What’s your metaphor today? Not your job, trauma, or role—just the raw, wordless essence of how you move through the world.
And if nothing fits—good. Maybe you’re the first quasar or origami crane. The world needs your shape, too.
P.S. I’m still a lantern. But lately, I’ve been flirting with moon—phases, shadows, and all. What about you?
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