Motivation Information brought to you by 2lossweight        

Its a Habit


Do you sometimes have the feeling that you're running into the same obstacles over and over again? Many of my conflicts have the same feel to them, like "Hey, I think I've been here before," but I can't figure out how I wound up in the same place. The situation is different, but the conflict feels the same.

I first read this poem in "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoche. When I "Googled" it, I found fourteen pages of links. It's clearly a favorite with many people; I know it speaks volumes to me.

"Autobiography in Five Chapters"
1) I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost . . . I am hopeless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

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'm in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

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.

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

5) I walk down another street.

Does this feel familiar? I am ready to learn that lesson! I'm sure that I've changed. I can see that hole coming a mile away. This time it will be different. I still end up falling in. Tired, sad and angry, I drag myself up once again. What was I supposed to learn here? I thought I learned that the last time.

Some conflicts seem to take years to unravel, but if we stay tuned, and our purpose is to look with curiosity and awareness, we will find the moment when we can step around the hole.

As I write, thinking about a recent stumble of my own, I am smiling a bit. From a distance, I watch myself drop into the hole - one I know well - and it's kind of funny. And perhaps that is the way out - to laugh more often, to "love our mistakes," as my friend says. I've heard it said that eventually we will laugh at all our mistakes - the trick is to laugh sooner. When I can laugh as I climb out of the hole, I'm on my way to finding the route around it, or better yet, that alternate street.

© 2005 Judy Ringer, Power & Presence Training

About the Author: Judy Ringer is Founder of Power & Presence Training, specializing in unique workshops on conflict, communication, and creating a more positive work environment. Judy is also a black belt in aikido, and is writing her first book on the connection between aikido, conflict, and living a more purposeful life. To sign up for more free tips and articles like these, visit http://www.JudyRinger.com

Note: You're welcome to reprint this article as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the 'about the author' info at the end).


MORE RESOURCES:

Motivational tools have changed for area coaches
Bloomington Pantagraph,  USA - 11 hours ago
By Randy Reinhardt The motivational powers of fear are immense. As a football player at Illinois Wesleyan, Dennie Bridges and his Titan teammates discovered ...


Washington Post

Lewis never lacks for motivation against Titans
My Tennessean.com, TN - Jan 7, 2009
And if Lewis needed any more motivation, he can think back to Week 5 when the Titans went to Baltimore and won 13-10 — in a game the Ravens limited ...
Baltimore using history as motivation Niagara Falls Review
NFL opening line report: Divisional round Covers
all 1,479 news articles


Washington Post

Tebow's been waiting for this moment since he was a little kid
Orlando Sentinel, FL - 11 hours ago
When asked if those comments will be used as motivation, Tebow said "absolutely." He might have the ability to turn a sunflower garden into motivation. ...
10 Reasons Oklahoma/Florida will win ESPN
Florida's Meyer likes Gators 'angry' on the field International Herald Tribune
Having the mental edge could be the difference MiamiHerald.com
CardinalSports.com (subscription) - Boston Globe
all 2,032 news articles


Fear major motivation for Mason
London Free Press, Canada - Jan 7, 2009
By MORRIS DALLA COSTA, FREE PRESS SPORTS COLUMNIST The superlatives are flying faster and harder than shots during a Detroit Red Wings power play. ...


How does hate become a prime motivation for both Victor ...
eNotes, WA - 14 hours ago
I can find obvious answers by describing the events in the novel, but I am after maybe something a little more subtle and something that might differ from ...


Motivational group a boon to local women
The News-Press, FL - Jan 6, 2009
On Monday, Ninth Wave, a nonprofit motivational group for women, kicked off its 2009 motivational-speaking series at Designer Shoe Gallerie on Cape Coral ...


Cards put motivation to good use
Arizona Republic, AZ - 14 hours ago
But, as noted in three or four articles in Sunday's Republic, it seemed to be a successful motivational ploy. I was rooting for them throughout the game, ...


Los Angeles Times

Ravens use an old motivational ploy: lack of respect
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jan 6, 2009
Respect is a motivational tactic as old as sport itself. Coaches and players portray themselves as unwanted, overlooked and underpraised. ...


Thomas Peele: Motivation calls into question Felt's hero status
Contra Costa Times, CA - Jan 6, 2009
The first thing to examine is motivation. Why must a person be anonymous? What do they have to lose? What stops them from being named? ...


Weight Loss Blog, Week 2: Motivation
TheDenverChannel.com, CO - 23 hours ago
Both agreed, though Sharon wanted to know why my lack of motivation meant she had to exercise. But she not only showed up, she got to the gym before me. ...

Motivation - Google News

home | site map
© 2006