Empower
Growth
(How many times have we stopped at Chapter IV ?)
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 forever to find a way out.
II.
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I still don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in the same place. 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 there, I still fall in. It's habit. It's my fault. I know where I am. 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 a different street.
Doesn't everything depend on how you look at it.
Compassion by Miller Williams
Have compassion for everyone you meet,
even if they don't want it.
What appears bad manners,
an ill temper or cynicism is always a sign of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen.
You do not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone.
Reinterpretation for self-compassion (Germer & Neff)
​
Have compassion for yourself,
even if you don't want it.
What appears bad manners,
an ill temper or cynicism could be a sign of things your ears could no longer hear, your eyes have since overlooked.
You may not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone.