![]() ![]() This metaphor is not to suggest that your experience is not happening, that your experience is not real. Just as we can become addicted to a substance because it takes away our discomfort, we can literally continue old habits, hoping for the same reduction in discomfort. The problem is, these ways of thinking and behaving become reinforced because they reduce discomfort. Often times, this is because we are reacting to old programing (passengers) rather than the road itself. After all, we began using them for a reason! But as the road of life changes, or our habits become over used, they begin to be less effective. ![]() These become our tacit solution to the problem of difficult internal experience. It is as if we develop a deal with the passengers, “You guys stay at the back of the bus, and I’ll go where ever you want.”Įmotional habits are actions and ways of thinking that protect us from the uncomfortable internal experiences (Passengers). So, we develop emotional habits – ways of thinking and behaving – to ensure that these passengers stay at the back of the bus, and out of our awareness. They make us quite uncomfortable when they come into awareness. Passengers tend to come into awareness whenever we need to move in the direction of something of importance to us a new relationship, a new job, change of some kind. So, while some of these passengers sit quietly, others can be like scary thugs that influence the way we drive our bus – the choices we make. Ideas about what we can or should expect from the world, our ability, etc. ![]() Ideas related to whether or not we are safe. They form our ideas about what we can expect from the world. But some experiences and people on the road leave indelible marks on us. Some passengers are benign, which don’t affect us very much. But the associated thoughts and feelings related to relationship, can get on the bus. (No, your ex girlfriend or boyfriend cannot get on your bus). The road, on the other hand, represents the situations and people we encounter. Passengers come from all of our unique life experiences, and form the symphony of emotions, beliefs, bodily sensations, and impulses inside you. From the moment your life begins on the road of life, you begin to pick up passengers. So, I will share it here ( You may also find a more recent version of this metaphor here)…… It’s a very useful way of thinking about our internal experience (versus external), and an excellent place to begin your journey to self discovery. The “Passengers on the bus” metaphor was developed by Steven Hayes, who developed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ![]()
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