Chronic Illness & Overcoming New Age Guilt in 5 Chapters
Years ago I came across a wonderful story I share early in the coaching process with new clients. The story is called “Autobiography in Five Chapters”*. Perhaps you know of it, but if not, I share it here:
My Autobiography in Five Chapters
Chapter 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 me 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’m in the 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.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
I know my response-ability for being here.
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 !
Notice, I have changed the word “responsibility” to “response-ability“. Why? It’s very simple: Those of us facing chronic illness have each been plagued at one time or another by “NAG-ging”. . . (i.e., New Age Guilt)!
Perhaps you have experienced the subtle (maybe even blatant) “blaming” that can occur when others (often