Part I - Are Those Shoes Too Tight?

When your shoes are too tight they prohibit you from spreading and flexing your toes. The restriction can cause lots of pain, slow you down from reaching your destination and leave permanent damage, especially if you walk in them for a prolonged period of time. Such is the case with any position you hold in life be it at work or in a relationship.

If you are boxed into a position or relationship that doesn't allow you to spread and flex your talents, personality or strengths it can cause pain by making you feel unappreciated, underutilized and unfulfilled. The goals you have for yourself or in your relationship become stifled because you are unable to effectively work towards them. Your environment, management, partner, friend or relative isn't conducive to the goals you are trying to achieve. Worse they may be in direct opposition to your greater pursuit.

Remaining in a stifling environment or position for too long can also ruin your chances of reaching the pinnacle of your success and happiness.  Staying in a negative environment or around unsupportive people diminishes your self-worth, self-trust and creativity. The restrictions also cause you to miss out on opportunities simply because you weren't ready or ill-prepared to apply yourself at the right time.

The Good News: You don't have to stay in a tight pair of shoes. You don't have to stay in an unproductive work environment.  You most certainly don't have to remain in a repressive relationship.
You can reach down and take those shoes off or send them to the shoe shop to be stretched. 

Leaving a job or relationship can be tough. But come on, when we need a new pair of shoes and our money is funny,  we learn how to save up a little at a time. Take small steps towards getting a new job. Send out your resume or start networking. See if your relationship has room to stretch before you throw it way.  Communicate with your partner, relative or friend about what you need from them. 

Prayer: Lord, please enlarge my territory and surround me with an environment that strengthens and encourages me to be the very best that I can be. Help me to humbly take advantage of every opportunity afforded to me.