FOREWORD

I'm betting that I am much like you in that I certainly never expected to be walking in the shoes I'm in now. I had plans and dreams when I was young, but as is so often the case, life doesn't always seem to cooperate. I grew up so poor that sometimes there would be no food on the table if I didn't "collect" from the customers on my paper route. I was the only son of an alcoholic father who died too young. I made a lot of bad decisions when I was left to my own devices. And when I finally earned my PhD, that's when I discovered that I wasn't fulfilled as a clinical psychologist in private practice, a pretty disheartening reality when that had always been my big goal!

The list of unexpected turns in my life is endless, and I wasn't always sure where the journey would take me. The reason my life script changed more dramatically than I ever could have imagined is because God had other plans for me—just as He does for every single one of us.

Sure, I'd like to think that my hard work and determination to find my calling paid off, that the reason I'm on TV each day working to help people live better lives is because I feel in my heart that I have something important to say. But I can guarantee you that none of the blessings in my life would exist were it not for my faith in God and my firm belief that each of us can find a personal way to make a positive impact in this world.
I sure don't have all the answers, not for myself, and not for you. But I am fairly certain here that, like me, you have not had a success-only journey, but I do know this—as a child of God, you are on this earth as a unique individual, with a specific reason for being here.

You may have a vibrant, dynamic relationship with God or your faith may be rusty, but at this very moment, you are only pages away from looking at your life with a new point of view. Whether you've heard Dr. Robert A. Schuller, senior pastor of The Crystal Cathedral, on his "Hour of Power" broadcast, or if you are discovering this esteemed pastor for the first time, you are about to be inspired by a man whose steadfast faith is an example for us all. And whether you feel you've been dealt a bad hand or you're living with confidence and strength, Walking In Your Own Shoes will bring you closer to your true self and your ultimate purpose.

All too often, we feel weighed down by the baggage of our past. We are consumed by self-doubt, or we make an inevitable wrong turn with consequences that feel like a life sentence. With relatable analogies, insightful discoveries, and meaningful passages from Scripture, Dr. Schuller shows us how we can learn from our mistakes and assess who we are now so that we can partner with God as we move toward our future.

Walking in Your Own Shoes is made all the more powerful because Dr. Schuller includes very personal accounts of his life, growing up as the son of a preacher who found his own "shoes." He offers specific tools for creating a new definition of success in our lives, as well as learning to walk by faith.
God is at work in all of our lives, but sometimes we need a reminder that the obstacles in our path are not as big as they seem and that it is never too late to become His partner. Only when we let God in can we begin to live with purpose, and fulfill the promise He is asking us to fulfill. You've taken the first step by holding this book in your hands. It is my hope that you will enjoy the journey.

— Dr. Phil McGraw
Los Angeles, California
November 2007