The Deep Hole
I came across a poem by Portia Nelson in my reading and it forced me to pause and reflect for a moment—okay, maybe a few moments. Make the best decision!
She gives us a peek into her life in these five short chapters of her biography:
- 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 forever to find a way out.
- I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend l don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in the same place. It isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.
- 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 habit. My eyes are open, I know where I am. It’s my fault. I get out immediately.
- I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
- I walk down another street.
For some people the deep hole may represent a bad relationship, toxic workplace, financial or other setback.
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Do You Understand Who You Are? – Make The Best Decision For You
Similar to the poet, many people repeatedly fall into the same hole. It may take them some time to realize that they need to take action, but eventually and thankfully they recover from the fall when a new route is found.
I too am cognizant that at various moments in my life, I have taken the same route as the poet and done the same things. Yes, made mistakes, ignored red flags – fell in the deep hole – even with my eyes wide open and my brain fully engaged. Only one day to realize that I needed to climb out of the hole, that the situation needed to be addressed and only I could fix it before it worsened – before the hole got deeper.
Understanding who you are and what you are worth is the key to making your ascent less perilous.
Just in case you missed my previous post on Self- Analysis, check it out here.
Creatures of Habit
As life goes on, a lot of people develop habits simply because they become accustomed to doing things a certain way or spending time with the same people, even though there may be danger present. We become creatures of habit and sometimes cling to old ways despite the negative consequences.
Finding The New Path – Make The Best Decision For You
You may fall in the deep hole and at the very least get bruised but don’t tarry, pick yourself up and find a new way that will keep you on the happy trail equipped with new awareness and a fresh outlook on life.
Become your personal change-maker and take the necessary actions to move beyond the deep hole. Changing yourself is not about a hairstyle or an outfit; it’s about analyzing your position and improving it – getting rid of what doesn’t work and strengthening what does.
You may find these questions useful in helping you climb out of the deep hole:
- What are my goals?
- Where can I find information that will help me make my decision(s)?
- What are my alternatives?
- What is my action plan?
Make small changes as you ascend from the deep hole so as not to become overwhelmed. Over time you will learn just where, when and how to make more changes. Don’t allow fear to paralyze you…find your light and make the best decision for you!
T’s- Tip: “A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living” – Hermione Lee
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