In hypnotherapy and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), metaphors are a powerful tool for communicating directly with the subconscious mind. Stories speak in the language of symbols, emotion, and intuition: the language of the subconscious. When we hear a metaphor, we don’t just understand it intellectually; we are gently guided into its imagery, fully immersed into its world (yep, hypnotised!).
That’s why even a simple tale can carry profound wisdom and open doors to healing, insight, and transformation.

The power of metaphors in ipnosi lies in the subconscious responding naturally to imagery and symbolic language. In trance work or dream exploration, we often bypass the analytical mind and access deeper truths; truths we may already know, but haven’t yet recognised.

The following metaphor, The Story of Toady the Toad, is one I like to share with clients who are navigating themes of self-worth, belonging, and inner love. It offers a gentle reminder that what we seek is often already within us, waiting to be discovered.

Metaphor of Healing – The Story of Toady the Toad

And now, I would like to tell you the story of Toady the Toad.
Toady was a kind little toad with many qualities. But somehow, he was struggling in life. Something seemed to pull him down, preventing him from finding happiness. He had a persistent feeling that nobody appreciated him. No matter how much effort he put into his job, no matter how hard he tried in his relationships, he always felt unloved deep down. Toady constantly felt like he didn’t belong, like he didn’t fit anywhere. This left him sad and dissatisfied in every aspect of his life.
 

One day, Toady decided to set out on a quest – a search for love. He travelled across the country, then ventured further.. in faraway lands in the East and in the West. Yet, no matter where he went, that same feeling of being unloved followed him. He changed jobs, made new friends, and even lived in different countries, but nothing changed deep inside: the void, the sense of something missing, remained. No matter where he went, he felt out of place, unappreciated, and unloved.

Exhausted from his wonderings, Toady eventually reached his limit. After all his searching, all the effort spent looking for someone or something to fill the hole inside him, he stumbled upon a cave. Something about the place called to him. A gut feeling told him to go inside.

As soon as he entered, he noticed a soft white glow. Behind the light sat peaceful and silent figure, a wise old bat. The bat’s presence emanated calm and contentment, and Toady couldn’t help but feel drawn to him.

‘Hello,’ Toady said, ‘I’m Toady the Toad. Who are you?’
‘I am the Fidelius the Bat’, the figure replied, ‘also known as the Sage of the Cave’.

‘Fidelius,’ Toad began with his voice heavy with emotion, ‘I have hit the bottom. I can’t go on like this anymore. I have tried everything: travelled to new places, met new people, lived in different countries, but the emptiness remains. I feel unloved and unappreciated no matter what I do.’
The bat looked deeply into Toady’s eyes. Then, with a gentle motion, he pulled out a small mirror from beneath his wings.
‘Ask him’, Fidelius said, handing Toady the mirror.
Toady took the mirror and look into it. His reflection stared back at him
Toady asked: ‘Do you love me?’
To his surprise the mirror answered with a soft, warm voice, saying: ‘Yes. With all my heart.’

In that moment, everything because clear to Toady. Tears of joy and relief streamed down his face.
He understood the lesson Fidelius was teaching him through the Magic Mirror: the love and appreciation he had spent his entire life searching were already within him.

All those long years looking outwards for something he carried inside himself all along. It was so clear now. The love he has been seeking was already there, waiting to be recognised. He realised that he alone could truly and deeply love himself.

With this new insight, the heavy burden of sadness, inadequacy, and worthiness that had weighted him down so long lifted in an instant. The feelings of lack and not belonging vanished, leaving him light and free.

‘Thank you, Fidelius’, Toady said with heartfelt gratitude.

The wise bat smiled and handed Toady a small, bright magic diamond.
‘This is your empowerment object,’ Fidelius explained, ‘Let it remind you, always, that the strength and love you seek are already within you.’

And so, the tale of toads hiding a diamond inside their head began, inspired by Toady’s story and the wisdom he gained.
 
And form that moment on, as Toady returned in his daily life, he felt loved and appreciated no matter where he was, what he was doing, or who he was with.
In fact, he felt more and more loved and appreciated with each passing day.. He now had a deeper sense of love and belonging, not because it came from others, but because it came from within. With the help of his empowerment diamond, Toady was reminded daily of his inner power: the infinite love he carried inside himself.

And he no longer needed to wait for others to give him what was already his.