Lazy Hand’s Quotes Collection

Gestalt Prayer ( Gestalt Gebet )

March 13th, 2006

Gestalt Prayer

I do my thing and you do your thing.

I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,

And you are not in this world to live up to mine.

You are you, and I am I,

And if by chance we find each other, it’s beautiful.

If not, it can’t be helped.

(Fritz Perls, 1969)

That is Gestalt prayer by Frederick S. (Fritz) Perls. While it seems to be overly individualistic, but there is great wisdom here.

All of us live in our own world, that even twins growing up together might not have same thinkings and expections over things. This prayer tells about our differences, and how to perceive the difference. The last line is beautiful, “If not, it can’t be helped“. Sometimes, really, there are things that can’t be forced.
I believe has given strenght to many people trying to cope with (sometimes unrealistic) expectation from oneself or from others.

Here is German and Japanese language version of the prayer

GESTALT GEBET

?????????

Ich lebe mein Leben und du lebst dein Leben.
??????????????????????????

Ich bin nicht auf dieser Welt, um deinen Erwartungen zu entsprechen -
??????????????????????????????????

und du bist nicht auf dieser Welt, um meinen Erwartungen zu entsprechen.
?????????????????????????????????

ICH BIN ich und DU BIST du -
????????????

und wenn wir uns zufallig treffen und finden, dann ist das schön,
????????????????????????????

wenn nicht, dann ist auch das gut so.
??????????????????????????????

Frederick Perls
???????????

Chinese version, translated with the help of google translator

?????, ?????
??????????????????
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???, ???
??????, ?????
???, ?????
-Fritz Perl

Entry Filed under: Poems