When it comes to changing our lives, metaphors are like secret keys. They unlock new ways of seeing things.

If you’ve ever heard someone described as having a “heart of gold”, you know it doesn’t mean their heart is made of gold. It means they’re kind and generous. That’s the power of metaphor.

It can help us picture our lives differently, see our potential, and rewrite the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we can do or become.

A metaphor that can change a perspective could be as simple as “life is a journey”.

It’s a common phrase, but when you delve into it, you realise it frames life as a path with a beginning, middle, and end, filled with various terrains, obstacles, and destinations.

This metaphor can change your perspective by encouraging you to see challenges as part of the journey, and appreciate that the path isn’t always straight or easy.

Metaphors to live by have one thing in common – agency. Agency is the capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own free choices.

Metaphors that emphasise agency can be particularly powerful because they remind us of our active role in shaping our lives, rather than being passive recipients of fate or circumstance.

For example, if your life metaphor is that you are the author of your own story, it suggests that while we can’t always control the events that happen to us, we have the power to give these events meaning, choose the role we play within them, and decide what direction our story will take next.

It’s a reminder that our personal story is ours to write, and that with intention and action, we can lead it toward a fulfilling narrative.

So how do you identify the metaphor that is shaping your life story? That’s a crucial step. The metaphors we live by are often so ingrained that we don’t recognise them.

To identify them, start by listening to your own language. What images do you use to describe your life, your work, your relationships?

Do you see your life or career as a battlefield, a race, a game of chance, a rollercoaster ride, or a merry-go-round?

Reflecting on these metaphors can reveal how you perceive your challenges and goals.

The metaphors we choose to live by are a powerful lens through which we view the world. They shape how we perceive our reality and how we engage with it.

Changing our metaphors starts with conscious reflection. We need to ask ourselves how our current metaphors serve us and how they might be limiting us.

Then we can actively choose metaphors that align with the life story we want to live. For instance, if you view life as a battle, you might constantly feel combative and on edge.

Changing this to life as a canvas places you in the role of an artist, capable of creating and changing the picture.

By consciously selecting metaphors that empower and inspire you, you can rewrite your story to be one of resilience, growth, and hope, no matter the circumstances.