Walking in Their Shoes

In Therapy, We are Often Tired of Walking in our Own Shoes, but Which Ones Do We Want to Walk In?

I enjoy a bit of thrifting now and then, getting to reduce waste and finding unique items with their own stories. This particular photo is of the shoe rack over at the Goodwill serving South Mesa in the 85210 area, close to my office, and it inspired some thought about a therapeutic metaphor in my head.

You know how when we use the phrase “to walk in their shoes” to mean understand them personally, to sympathize or empathize from a place of experience. Just looking at the Goodwill rack of shoes I thought about all of the different people who have walked in those shoes, and how they will now go on to be walked in by others. People will literally get to “walk in their shoes”, to experience life on a different path.

Sometimes when you shop for shoes, you are seeking certain experience. You might be looking for comfort. You might be experimenting with a new look. Or you might be wanting to be perceived differently. Could therapy be considered an emotional equivalent?

In therapy, you might be seeking out a certain feeling, like validation, acceptance, a space to just be you without judgement. You might be unhappy with your current walk in life, and be wanting to try out something new. Perhaps you are hoping that by changing the path you are walking on, people will stick by you. Or maybe you just want to like the person in the mirror.

Whatever your reason is, it is normal and healthy to want change. People shop to change things up all of the time. Even if you don’t want things to change, they eventually do change, which is outside of your control. So it is our work together in therapy to help you pick out which shoes you want, so that you can actually enjoy the walk in your own life.