Exercising on the Mall has become one of my favorite things to do in the nation’s capital. It’s mindboggling to think that I live “down the street” from a place that millions of people around the world long to visit. At times, I almost forget the enormity of the city’s image. But last Friday, that wasn’t the case.

As I approached the monument, I was able to see individuals rappelling down the sides of the monument inspecting for damage from August’s earthquake.  As you can see (or barely see) in the pic is a lone figure suspended at the top of the structure. In case you aren’t aware, that’s a long way down…550 feet to be exact.

In summary:

• The monument is a huge part of the image of Washington, DC.
• There are cracks in the monument.
• People risk falling in order to identify the cracks that need repair.

It got me to thinking…

Our images are built by our words and actions.  What happens when they don’t match up with whom we think we are or who we want to be?

Those are our cracks, but only some of us are willing to face them head on. We know that cracks left unattended compromise integrity, yet many of us would rather dismiss our “faults” than suffer the discomfort of acknowledging them.

Perhaps we think the risk of falling into the rabbit hole of self-exploration is too much to handle. We must remember that only when we recognize an issue can we begin to heal it.

The question is, have you identified areas where you need work? If not, how far are you willing to fall?