Taking Personal Responsibility

This is a An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters, written by Portia Nelson. It is about a person with a problem they keep facing. In her case, it is a hole in the sidewalk. As you read, consider what your personal hole in the sidewalk is, and where you are in the 5-chapter continuum.  

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 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 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 street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

V.

I walk down another street.

We will keep making the same mistakes over and over until we become self-aware, and take personal responsibility for making a different decision, to take different actions. What are the issues that you keep facing? Where are you in the 5-chapters?

Our mission at United Sports Tae Kwon Do and BucksMont Tae Kwon Do is to help our students to become the best version of themselves in and out of the dojang. We talk about responsibility for actions, and having the integrity to do what is right. I felt that this story captures that mission and wanted to share it with you.

Thanks for reading. We welcome your thoughts.