Read the following 5 chapters and try to see if you can recognize where you’re at on your health journey?
Chapter 1:
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 2 :
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 3:
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 4 :
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5 :
I walk down another street.
(Portia Nelson, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery)
I lived in chapter 1 and 2 for many years.
These were the years where my discontent was at its highest, when my body hurt, when I got prescribed pills to ease the physical pain and other ones to help lift the feeling of despair and the hard knot that was always in my solar plexus.
The dominant sentiment of chapter 1 and 2 was ‘it isn’t my fault’.
I felt like my body was betraying me and like I had very little control over my health and how my tomorrows would unfold.
I felt like a victim of my genetics, my surroundings, my cravings, even of my friends and family’s choices and opinions…
I moved out of chapters 1 and 2 and into chapter 3 when I began OWNING IT.
I’d still fall into the hole a lot (old ruts and habits), but I knew where I went wrong and I started taking responsibility.
This was a really gradual process for me but I remember how thrilling it felt to even imagine that I had agency over my health and my future. This was new territory. Scary and exciting.
If you’re in chapter 3; CELEBRATE!
This is where the rubber meets the road and real change starts to happen. Strap on your seat belt my friend.
Just noticing when we fall into old habits is the first step to long-term, sustainable change.
This Chapter calls for kindness and gentleness. It’s not easy to fall into the hole, own your shit and get back up.
It’s a process ❤️
Once you take responsibility and start to notice; stepping around the hole (successfully changing the habit) is just the reasonable next step.
Halleluiah – amazing Chapter 4!
Chapter 4 is all clunky and uncomfortable and messy at first…
Then you may become a bit preachy and self-righteous in all of your lofty Chapter 4 ways… Hopefully you have people to call you out if you get all holier than thou – I do!
I envision Chapter 5 as doing your own thing, accepting others where they’re at on their journey without the preaching and the self-righteousness.
Chapter 5 is about feeling good in your body and in your life.
And then, having the conviction to do what it takes to keep yourself in that space despite outside opinion, wanting to fit in or the urge to give in to old-rut-self-destructive behaviour.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever be completely there…
I still bump up against my demons and slip-slide back a couple/few Chapters every now and then.
It’s a work in progress but it’s also great ride… Are you ready?
Where are you on your health path?
