Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS
by Portia Nelson

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.

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.

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.

IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V
I walk down another street.

In co-active coaching, we talk about 'deepening the learning and forwarding the action'. What I love about this simple poem is that it provides a template for how to do that with awareness and compassion. Notice she doesn't say "My eyes are open. I know where I am. If I could just figure out what's wrong with me and fix it, I could get out. If I could just find the right diet, I could get out." Rather, "It is my fault" (awareness, deepening the learning). "I get out immediately".