The Shoes That Once Carried Me
A few years ago, I went to put on a pair of shoes I used to love. They were a trusted pair — familiar, well-worn, once so comfortable I could wear them all day. But this time, something had shifted. They rubbed in the wrong places. They felt too tight. I kept them on for a while, convincing myself they just needed breaking in again. But no matter how much I walked, they just didn’t feel right anymore.
It wasn’t the shoes that had changed — it was me.
And that moment mirrored something deeper I was experiencing: I’d outgrown something I once loved. Not just shoes — but a version of my life, my work, even parts of myself. I just hadn’t realised it yet.
Nature Doesn’t Fight Change
We often resist change. Even when we know deep down that something no longer feels right, we cling to it. Why? Because it’s familiar. Because it once fit. Because stepping into something new feels uncertain.
But nature doesn’t argue with change.
A caterpillar doesn’t debate whether it’s ready to become a butterfly — it simply knows. Trees don’t cling to leaves that are no longer serving them — they let go, trusting that spring will return. The seasons don’t apologise for shifting.
What if we treated our growth like nature does — as a natural, inevitable and necessary part of life?
Why Do We Stay?
We stay in jobs we no longer love. We maintain routines that leave us empty. We hold onto relationships that feel more draining than nourishing.
We tell ourselves stories like:
- It used to be good, so maybe it will be again.
- I should be grateful.
- Who would I be without this?
But just like those too-tight shoes, staying in something you’ve outgrown doesn’t serve you — it only slows you down.
Pause and Reflect
Take a quiet moment to ask yourself:
- What in my life feels like it no longer fits?
- Where am I holding on out of fear, not love?
- If I listened to my inner voice — what would it tell me I’m ready to release?
- What would trusting my own season of change look like?
There’s no need to rush the answers. Simply noticing is a powerful first step.
What Coaching Can Do
This is where coaching comes in. Coaching provides a space to explore those uncomfortable truths — the ones we often push aside. It helps you tune in to your own quiet wisdom, recognise what you’ve outgrown and imagine what might be possible next.
It’s not about forcing change. It’s about supporting your growth — gently, intentionally and with kindness.
If the Shoes Don’t Fit, Take Them Off
Maybe it’s time to stop forcing the fit. To walk barefoot for a while. To feel the ground under your feet and reconnect with what you need now — not what you needed then.
And when you’re ready, choose something new. Something that fits who you are becoming.
Gentle Next Steps
If this post resonated, here are a few small ways to begin:
🌱 Journal Prompt:
Where in my life am I feeling discomfort that I’ve been ignoring? What might that be trying to teach me?
🧋 Take One Step:
Identify one area you’ve outgrown. Then take one small action — whether that’s having a conversation, changing a habit or simply acknowledging the truth.
🧟♂️ Speak It Aloud:
Share your truth with someone you trust, or say it to yourself in the mirror. Sometimes the most powerful shift begins with giving voice to what’s been unspoken.
🌿 Consider Coaching:
If you’d like support in navigating change, I offer 1:1 coaching sessions designed to help you explore what’s next. You don’t have to figure it out alone. To book a free discovery session just click here.
Remember –
You’re not meant to stay the same.
You’re meant to grow, to evolve — and yes, to change.
And when the shoes no longer fit, that’s not failure.
That’s the beginning of your next becoming.
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