There’s a Hole in my Sidewalk By Portia Nelson

“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 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 me 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 a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

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

I walk down another street.”

Can you relate?  I can!  To see our habits as our own may be the realization we need to make a change… and to find another way.  We don’t need to keep repeating what holds us back.  We are creatures of habit, but sometimes those habits no longer serve us and they just need to go.  I always say we always have choices in life.  We can choose to hold on to things or discard them.  And yes some of this is learned behavior we learned at a very young age.  And yes, this can affect your work.   You bring your entire self to work, don’t you?  The family is the original organization so we will bring learned behavior to work.  Breaking the cycle of pattern repetition can turn unhealthy family baggage into creative energy that will foster better workplace associations and career success.  Breaking patterns are hard, I know!  I’ve been breaking some big ones myself!  But I can promise you this, once you break through there is something better on the other side.  I’ve learned some creative efficient ways to break those patterns too.  So it can be done!  The first step is to observe yourself so you can be aware of them and then change can happen.  Transformation can be right around the corner.  When that happens, a new level of creativity can come about.  And that’s freedom!