A check engine light coming on has one purpose, to let you know something is wrong. Without going on a Seinfeld-like rant (What’s the deal with check engine lights?!), let me say that it doesn’t really look like an engine to me, and I am fan of cars. It certainly doesn’t look like the plastic cover that you look at when you open the hood. Next, it doesn’t tell you much. We live in an age of infotainment centers embedded into our dashes, palms and lives. Is it too much to ask, what exactly is going on in there? Should I pull over immediately or wait until my next paycheck?
If you’ll pardon the extended analogy, looking at a therapist’s blog is sort of like a check engine light illuminating. You are reading it because there is something going on, but you aren’t exactly sure what. Maybe you have a good idea because that clunking sound has happened in the past, but you’ve avoided going back to the shop.
I’m tempted to stop the analogy completely as I’m not sure I like comparing myself to a mechanic as that brings to mind fairly negative connotations, although returning patients are often asking for a “tune-up.” I’ll plow ahead despite the grease monkey image though…
Therapy can help explain what that light means. Getting a trained, third party perspective can help you understand what might need to change and how to change it. And just like a good mechanic, you want an honest one who knows how to work on a car like yours. Not everyone (car) is alike, but make sure you aren’t taking your BMW to a Saturn dealer. Sometimes the work entails accepting that you have a car that has gone 100,000 miles and won’t run like new anymore. There is going to be a creak in the left front corner and the gas mileage isn’t what it used to be.
Cars and people both can clunk from time to time. Sometimes we come in when we need a “tune up” and other times after a four car pile up. Reading this blog doesn’t mean you need an appointment, but it is time for a good self check.