Oh, they were gorgeous. They went perfectly with that new outfit. Maybe they were even on sale!  So seductive was the allure, you talked yourself out of the potential discomfort with a "No pain, no gain" mantra.

What fun to bring them home!

But then you walked a mile in those shoes.  And it hurt like hell.

Life can be like that, can't it?

Something can look really good and check off so many boxes. It seems like the logical next step, and maybe it even works for a while, but at some point you realize you're miserable.

You grew. 

Actually, you outgrew what used to work for you.

Look, we all face those shocking life changes that rip the rug out from under us and we have to adapt, quickly. Often these jolts catapult us to new life choices and can be alternately thrilling and awful.

But then there are the more subtle nudges when, like those pinching shoes, your internal compass whispers, "This no longer works for you."

We often resist. We amp up our gratitude practice, trying to talk ourselves into staying the same.

Sometimes we even beat ourselves up! 

Instead of being surprised or even disappointed in yourself for no longer being satisfied with "what is" , I think you should applaud yourself!

Growth isn't inevitable after a certain age. You can easily choose to check out and coast and settle into a never-changing routine.

(No judgement, I promise!)

But the people I've met who remain curious, interested in new things, who are even willing to change their playlist, point of view, or order something wildly out of character on the menu seem to have discovered more than music or food.

They've found the fountain of youth.

Childlike wonder doesn't discriminate. It's available to all ages!

So if you're feeling the blahs (and we all do, sometimes), and sensing the nudge for something new, try these ideas on for size:

1.Say yes to something that would have been an automatic no.

Embrace that pickleball invite.  Accept the symphony ticket. Instead of hopping in the car, take a walk and enjoy the breeze and butterflies.

This week I had to mail a package and while I could have handled it in a five minute drive, I decided to stroll 20 minutes to the post office. Along the way I looked in storefront windows, pet dogs, cooed over babies, and logged 6,000 steps.

It's been scientifically proven that if you just do one simple thing differently - like brush your teeth with a different hand - it can lead to better focus, memory, and creativity. Using your non-dominant hand forces your brain to use different neural pathways, which could lead to sharper cognitive function.

This doesn't mean you'll end up loving the symphony.  But switching things up is good for you!

2. Give yourself permission to imagine your life differently. 

Start with what's irking you and don't ignore it. Maybe your dream house of decades lately annoys you with its maintenance and unused rooms. Could it be that you're ready to downsize?

Or if most nights you struggle with loneliness might you consider, gulp, getting a roommate?

For years I dreamed of going "all in" and starting my own business. When good friends would encourage me to take the leap, I'd respond with a list of reasons why it wouldn't work.

My life literally had to fall apart and FORCE me to do what I really wanted to do!  And it's been the most invigorating, creative, vibrant period of my professional life.

Just like Harry said to Sally at the end of the famous 1989 movie, "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible..."

And that goes for every area of your life, not just romance.

3. Tune in instead of out when ideas evoke an extreme response.

That rage or exasperation; protests and arguments?  In my own life, reflection often revealed that what was really having a hissy fit was my EGO.

The famous definition - EGO = "Edges God Out" is a good indicator of how your wisdom is being sourced.

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3:17, NKJV)

Not willing to yield?  Or consider the opposing point of view?  Raging against the advice of good people who love you?

Listen to that check engine light and have a good heart to heart with yourself.

Because maybe the very thing you're fighting is actually what can restore you to joy if you hit the mat and surrender.

We're all surrendering to something, whether it is faith or fear.

"Faith and fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose!" - Bob Proctor

This past month, I held a book signing at Werner Books & Coffee in Erie, PA. My table featured all three of my books (pinch me!)

The next day I took the stage and spoke to a room filled with municipal clerks who wanted to learn how to run from burnout and achieve breakthroughs in their lives. 

I hopped on a plane and coached corporate leaders about organizational culture and communications strategies.

Along the way, I helped lift some burdens and brighten spirits.

At one point I realized, "I'm living my dream."

So how did it happen?

Through a series of heartbreaks I never would have chosen. But I will offer this one piece of advice:

Letting go precedes letting in. 

Yes, it's scary to let go of what we know to make space for something new! But worse would be never trying and living with the regret.

Like the pain of walking in shoes that just don't fit you anymore.