My husband recently decided to replace my running shoes after noticing the gaping holes underneath them. I’m embarrassed to admit how long they’d been there because I loved the shoes so much. When I got the new pair, I was elated. I loved the color and knowing this pair was hole-free made me feel more confident.
Yet, when I slipped my orthotics in and put the shoes on, something didn’t feel quite right. The shoes weren’t exactly tight but when I was walking I couldn’t help feeling like my feet were going to get pushed out of the shoes. They looked splendid on my feet and I got loads of compliments but the confidence I exuded outwardly didn’t ring true inside. I kept feeling like I was going to lose my footing.
After milling about for a day to see if I’d feel better in them or replace them, I sheepishly realized that I failed to remove the shoes’ existing insoles to make room for my orthotics. As a result, the placement of my feet was too high for me to feel stable.
And then the thought came to me, doesn’t advancement often feel like this? We get the promotions or new positions we’ve worked so hard for only to feel like we’re losing our footing as soon as we take them on. In the case of my running shoes, the fit was actually perfect. I just needed to make an adjustment for the foundation to feel solid.
We sometimes tell ourselves (explicitly or subliminally) that we’re unworthy or not fit for a new opportunity when what’s really needed is a shoring up of our foundation.
What supports, self-care practices, and grace are you giving to yourself as you take on your new thing? Who are the mentors, advisors, coaches, and organizational navigators you’re partnering with to gain more solid footing?
There’s an excerpt from Hebrews 12:1, one of my favorite scriptures “…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” And let’s also make sure we’re running with the right shoes and foundation we need!
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