What is a metaphor?

In our manual for “How to Use Your Brain”, we use the car as a metaphor. A metaphor helps us understand and describe reality. In this project, the car represents how we “drive our own life” and observe how others drive theirs. The car is a useful metaphor because most of us know about cars and how they work.
We first look at the car as a whole and then break it down into parts: the chassis, wheels, seats, steering wheel, engine, etc. Older cars use keys to start, while modern cars use sensors or can even drive themselves. In this project, we focus on cars where you need a key.
In the car metaphor, we keep the keys in the ignition. If your keys aren’t in the car, then it’s “No keys, No Go”. The keys represent control over your life; you’re responsible for them and you shouldn’t hand your keys over to anyone else.
In the morning, you get out of bed and choose what you will do that day. This is like deciding which road to take. You might visit a friend or have breakfast to “fuel up” before starting your day.
Metaphors can explain abstract ideas. For example, in a study on crime rates, some people saw crime as a “virus” to be treated, while others saw it as a “beast” to be punished.
When talking about cancer, we often use the metaphor of a war. We “battle” cancer, “fight” it with treatments like radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery. For some, this works; for others, it doesn’t. Another way to think about cancer is as a journey. This metaphor suggests a unique, ongoing experience rather than a battle.
We can choose our metaphors to shape how we understand and approach our life.
Dave Hyatt.