The Metaphor
In the story, Mindy is in charge of this vehicle that represents her life.
What is a plane?
Fear, embarrassment, shame, anxiety, and despair are all examples of these types of travelers.
What are uncomfortable emotions?
Mindy turned this on when she tried to yell at or get rid of the travelers.
What is the struggle switch?
Heading East represented living a life filled with this.
What is vitality?
Air Traffic Control reminded Mindy who truly controls the plane.
Who is Mindy?
The travelers on Mindy’s plane represent these internal experiences.
What are thoughts, feelings, memories, urges, and sensations?
These travelers tried to tell Mindy she wasn’t good enough to have friends or adventure.
What are critical thoughts?
When Mindy fought the travelers, they became this.
What are bigger and creepier?
For Mindy, heading East meant being this kind of friend.
What is a loyal friend?
Thoughts and feelings can’t take over the flight controls unless Mindy does this.
What is let them?
Some travelers were described as scary and included thoughts like “I’m not good enough.”
What are unhelpful or negative thoughts?
No matter what Mindy did, the door on the plane only did this.
What is let more travelers on?
When Mindy made deals with the travelers to keep them quiet, she flew in this way.
What is every which way?
Adventures, fun, and connection happened when Mindy did this.
What is continue flying East despite discomfort?
Mindy learned she could make space for unpleasant travelers by doing this.
What is allowing them to be present?
When the travelers took over where Mindy flew, her life was described as this.
What is hijacked?
These travelers had actually been there all along and were described as encouraging and wise.
What are supportive or helpful thoughts?
Turning off the struggle switch meant Mindy stopped doing this.
What is fighting her thoughts and feelings?
At first, heading East felt this way.
What is uncomfortable?
Keeping the struggle switch off required this quality.
What is courage?
Even though the travelers were loud and uncomfortable, they were described as unable to physically harm Mindy.
What are thoughts and feelings that can’t actually touch her?
Courage in the story meant allowing these travelers to stay on the plane.
What are fear and other uncomfortable emotions?
Mindy realized she was either grounded or flying everywhere except this direction.
What is East?
Mindy’s life became rich, full, and meaningful when she chose direction over this.
What is control over thoughts and feelings?
The ultimate lesson of the story is that you can move toward meaning even when this is present.
What is fear and discomfort?