What to do while Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop~Stop Waiting, Of Course!

'Before you criticize someone, 
you should walk a mile in their shoes. 
That way when you criticize them, 
you are a mile away from them, 
and you have their shoes.' 

Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts

Stop That!

Shedding Light on 'Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop'

Yes, it's time to put a little levity in whatever moment of darkness you have been concocting in your mind as you've been 'waiting for the other shoe to drop' in your life. 

For me, a week doesn't go by without something making the pit of my stomach drop as my mind anticipates the other shoe. Since I really hate that feeling, my mind naturally looks for ways to step beyond the waiting to taking action. And humor always seems to help.

What about you? What bit of bad news have you been waiting for? Wouldn't you like to step beyond it, too? Then come with me as I think through changing my own mindset.

No Drama Beginnings

Ordinary Origins: 'Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop'

'Waiting for the other shoe to drop' is such an interesting old-time saying. After recently hearing it used I decided to explore what's behind the saying and examine how we might rework our human habit of anticipating 'the worst' to create a more positive approach to moving forward with life.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop has come to mean waiting for something really bad to happen after we've already experienced one 'bad' event. Rather than moving on 'after disaster hits' we wait around for 'the inevitable other shoe to drop' while carrying around that bad feeling in the pit of our stomach. 

But the saying actually originated as a less-than-dramatic response to an ordinary situation during the late 19th and early 20th century.

Apparently in New York City tenements it was common for apartments to be built with one bedroom directly under another on the floor above. As the story goes, the tenet below would hear a neighbor removing his shoes as they hit the floor above. After one shoe hit the floor, the neighbor below would be 'waiting for the other shoe to drop'. Not very dramatic, is it?

When are you going to drop the other shoe?

The Uban Dictionary illustrated how the term dropped into being with this silly rendition:

'A guest who checked into an inn one night was warned to be quiet because the guest in the room below his was a light sleeper. As he undressed for bed, he dropped one shoe, which, sure enough, awakened the other guest. He managed to get the other shoe off in silence, and got into bed. An hour later, he heard a pounding on the floor and a shout: "When are you going to drop the other shoe?" Thus the term waiting for the other shoe to drop.'

Stop Waiting

Snap Out of It and Move On


'Waiting for the other shoe to drop' is an expression that aptly describes how we passively wait for things outside our control to determine what happens to us next. This is a very dis-empowering stance to take in life.

So when we find ourselves in that place of waiting for the other shoe to drop what can we do to move out of it faster? 

We can move out of that fear-producing stance by actively take charge of our next steps--including reinterpreting what's coming when the other shoe drops. We can choose to move into action.

Stop waiting. Start imagining a different shoe to put on and move on.

Lucky Horse Shoe Falling into your lap

Make Your Own Luck

Why not anticipate the other shoe to drop will be a lucky one? Or one to bring you joy?

Try bringing out your inner dog and anticipate your future with enthusiasm. 

Oh boy! A shoe! My favorite!

If you only look for bad things to show up, you'll only see bad things when they arrive and totally miss the good that regularly drops in your lap. If you switch to looking for good things coming next, you may actually see something good on the horizon.

We all start from a place of waiting for the other shoe to drop. The challenge is for us to find ways to move out of the fearful place sooner  so we can see the good stuff coming our way. 

Determine Your Own Way

Imagine the Shoe is a Boot and Pull Yourself Up by the Bootstraps

As long as we're waiting, we're not moving forward. As long as we're looking for the other shoe to drop, we've taken our eyes off our goals and dreams. 

Don't ever forget you are the master of your own life. You can greatly determine your own way by staying focused on what you want to make happen in your life and consistently taking action in the direction you want to go no matter what shoe drops.

Don't wait around for things to happen to you. Take a step--any step--in the direction you want yourself to go.

Imagine the other shoe to drop is a boot, pull yourself up by the bootstraps, and take charge.

Imagine the Shoe is Cinderella's Slipper

Don't forget when Cinderella's other shoe dropped she found her prince. 

Cinderella's story is proof that when the other shoe drops your life can change for the better.

'Give a girl the right shoe and she can conquer the world.' Marilyn Monroe

Imagine when the Other Shoe Drops You Walk Away

When that shoe drops get ready to walk away. 

Put those shoes on and walk away from drama as fast as you can. 

Don't linger in a bad situation. Step into action and keep on moving.


Imagine Life Throws You Dancing Shoes

'Please send me your last pair of shoes, 

worn out with dancing as

you mentioned in your letter, 

so that I might have something 

to press against my heart.'

 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Let Life Drop You Soft Bunny Slippers   

Be on the look out for the soft pink bunny slippers to be the next shoe to drop.  And if the slippers fit, wear them. Take time to relax in your comfy slippers knowing you can handle life calmly.


Say yes to the universe and accept everything life puts in front of you. Trust you can handle whatever life brings. Be confident and strong knowing all things seemingly good or bad work in your favor. 

'Even in the mud and scum of things, something always, always sings.' Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stand Tall 

Yours are Big Shoes to Fill

If the Shoe Fits, Wear it

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before.

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