I love the poem Autobiography in Five Short Chapters by Portia Nelson.
It’s brilliant in how efficiently and effectively it captures so much of the human condition and the pathway to overcoming challenges and mastering ourselves.
Its first power is in normalizing the patterns that so many of us share: most of us are simultaneously in different chapters of this poem in various areas of our lives… perhaps snacking, perhaps people pleasing, perhaps substance use, perhaps becoming disproportionately angry when things don’t go our way, perhaps comparing ourselves to others on social media and finding ourselves “lesser,” perhaps none of these, or perhaps all of them and more.
And none of that make us bad people.
Then it illustrates many of the factors that contribute to changing these unwanted patterns… bringing our unconscious habits into conscious awareness, taking responsibility for our actions and transitioning from an external to an internal locus of control, finding the motivation to change, and making wise choices.
And here’s the poem. I feel honoured and privileged that the work I do is helping others navigate these potholes.
Be gentle with yourselves,
Andrew
AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS
Chapter I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost … I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.
Chapter II
I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I pretend I don’t see it.I fall in again.I can’t believe I am in the same place.But it isn’t my fault.It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter IV
I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I walk around it.
Chapter V
I walk down another street.
~ Portia Nelson (1920-2001)