There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: A Coaching Metaphor for Change

‘There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk’ is a poem by Portia Nelson that beautifully describes the stages of transformation that coaching offers.

Most of us live much of our lives on autopilot.

We repeat the same actions and expect to get different results.

We keep falling into the hole in the sidewalk.

Mindful coaching helps you realize you can change and choose to get out of old habits.

When you do, the results are different.

When you open your eyes,

and pause to be intentional,

you learn to walk around “the holes,”

and many times choose a different street to walk on altogether.

“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.

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 the same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes me a long time to get out.

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.

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

I walk down another street.”

- Portia Nelson

The other street feels much better.

It feels freer, calmer, and more peaceful.

If you want to stop falling into sidewalk holes, reach out.