It’s a habit – I can’t help it!
28 Day Blog Challenge – Day 11
Do you have habits that you don’t like?
Do you repeatedly do the same things and ask yourself why?
Yesterday I set unrealistic expectations of myself and didn’t manage to achieve everything. In fact I went to bed feeling ill and knowing I’d overdone it.
This has been a familiar story for me over my working life. Over the years I’ve recognized this, and have changed things, changed some habits so I don’t find myself in this same position on a regular basis. Yesterday I just slipped up!
I was reminded of Portia Nelson’s “Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters” from There’s a hole in my sidewalk …
Chapter 1
I walk down the street
There’s 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.
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 this 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 … but, 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.
Bad habits can be difficult to break. It can take time. But if you recognize you have them, it’s a start. The next step is about asking yourself which small 1st step you can take to change this habit, so that one day you’ll find yourself walking down another street.
Thank you for taking time to read this blog.
I’m Debbie Inglis, a performance coach, mentor and trainer, working with Heads, Principals, School leaders and their teams to maximise leadership performance, create more effective, confident, and motivated teams … in a way that brings out the best in them.
If you’re interested in my services, please get in touch, and you can read more here.
