This metaphor can be used as a vehicle for meditation/mindfulness practice or in therapeutic conversation with a client.
Thoughts and feelings come into our awareness. They create ripples - other thoughts and feelings. We don't like "bad" thoughts and feelings, so we bat at them.
We interfere by splashing around. The droplet of (a"negative" thought or feeling) comes in and we can choose to observe it, or meddle with it. What is it like to stop splashing? To let the droplet come, the ripples happen, and let them naturally subside.
If you have feedback, I'd love to hear your thoughts about this metaphor: anna@moodtreatmentcenter.com. Clients tend to come up with some brilliant ways of making this their own!