Metaphor Mousing on Email Replying

My amazing friend and inspiration-supplier, Havi does this Thing where she has Metaphor Mouse help her reframe the way she relates to certain activities that are…well…yucky.

So through a series of questions, she finds a new way of relating to the previously yucky task and it makes everything better!

I’m using her template for Metaphor Mousing here because I notice a feeling of dread that comes up when I think about going into my inbox and writing back to some of the emails that I know are waiting there for me.

So here we go…

Unpacking my CURRENT relationship with this. (Responding to Emails = ?)

What are the qualities, aspects and attributes of the thing that isn’t working (including what *is* working — if anything)?

• Important
• Scary
• Guilt
• Part of business
• Want it behind me.
• Looming over my head.
• Get sucked in.
• Drama
• Should
• Has to be done
• Dread
• Reputation ruiner (or builder)
• Behind
• Want to hide
• Hate it

Reminds me of?

Hiding behind the curtains as a kid, but having my feet sticking out and someone knows I’m there. I’m supposed to come out and do some stuff I *should* be doing, but I’m having way more fun (and get to avoid the pain of doing the things) by hiding out behind the curtain giggling and not seeing what’s actually going on out there.

The seeing thing stands out to me. I’m very visual and the fact that this is reminding me of being behind a curtain where I can’t see the rest of the house is significant. I have been doing the same thing with my inbox sometimes. Not wanting to SEE what’s in there. So I just pull the curtain over it – so to speak.

Learning more about my IDEAL metaphor (X = ?)

What sort of qualities, aspects and feelings does the thing I want contain?

• Feels good
• Enjoyable
• Look forward to it.
• Helps my business
• Easy
• Fun
• Quick
• Everything above board.
• Honest.
• Forgiving
• Clear.
• Energizing
• Courage
• People are grateful to hear from me.
• Confidence
• Happy to connect
• Can’t do it wrong.
• Regular upkeep

Reminds me of:

Tending to a garden? In some ways, but not many…

Meeting up with a friend that I haven’t seen for a while and picking up right where we left off and loving each other and being happy to see each other.

Yes! This is what I want. I want it to be like no time has passed. Like this friend is totally forgiving of any time that has passed and it doesn’t even matter to this person that time has passed. Nor does it matter to me. We are in the moment. We’re just happy and grateful to be with each other again and life is easy and everything is good.

What do you think Metaphor Mouse? Are we at Metaphor?

Almost….We require a name for this metaphor so I can refer to it instead of saying replying to email…

• Going to a best friend reunion?
• Reconnecting with old friends?
• Meeting Michele for Tea
• Being With Friends Again
• Talking To Friends Again
• Picking Up Right Where We Left Off… (yes, like the story never stopped and it just starts again now.)
• Continuing The Story – getting closer because now it involves writing
• Choose Your Own Adventure. Hmmm. Like I put the book down for a bit and then now I’m picking it back up and choosing what adventure happens to the characters in the story…only I’m doing this with other people.
• They write some of the story in an email…then I eventually write back to them with more of the story.

YES! This is where I’m loving it.

We are writing a story together and it’s just a matter of picking up where we left off and having space for each of us to write whatever we choose. It’s like my friend Carol talks about in improv…it’s all about “Yes, and…”

You receive what the other person shares, and then instead of judging or criticizing it or changing it, you say, “YES…and then…”

And the story continues.

So it’s not that I’m going to be replying to emails.

Now I’m going to take my turn in the Write Your Own Adventure game we’re playing.

Oh…this is soo fun. Yes, definitely a game. And definitely a TAKING TURNS thing.

Their turn. My turn. Their turn. My turn.

And in this game, the people I play with are allowing of however much time it requires for me to do my turn.

Wonderful!

What needs to happen next?

- Think about the props or things that will help integrate this new metaphor into my life.

- Write a little thing about the Write Your Own Adventure game I just created. Post the rules and object of the game on my blog so I can refer people to the game I’m playing. If they like the way the game sounds, they can play with me. No one has to play though. It’s a creative game, people! Totally optional. I am playing the game though.

- Maybe I need a jersey or some other type of sports uniform that I wear when I’m playing the game? Or a feather pen that I put behind my ear? Or Hmm…what “game pieces” do I require for this game to make it fun?

Any ideas from you, dear Ones?