The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe

In the vast tapestry of human wisdom, Carl Jung — the great explorer of the human soul — once spoke a truth that resounds through the ages: “The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.” In these few words lies a profound teaching about the nature of individuality, the sacred uniqueness of every human spirit. Jung reminds us that no single path leads all souls to peace, for each person walks a road shaped by their own wounds, desires, and destiny. What nourishes one heart may poison another; what brings joy to one life may bring sorrow to the next.

The shoe in Jung’s metaphor is not merely an object, but a symbol — the pattern of life, the rules, customs, or ideals that men and women often try to impose upon one another. We are taught from birth to follow certain ways: to seek success, to pursue love, to live “properly.” Yet Jung, who spent his life studying the depths of the psyche, saw the folly in such uniformity. The soul is not made by a machine; it is shaped by mystery. No two souls are identical, and therefore no single rule or belief can bind them all. To force one’s life into another’s pattern is to live a stranger’s truth — to wear shoes that will always pinch and bleed.

Consider the tale of Vincent van Gogh, the painter whose vision burned too brightly for his age. In his time, society declared that success meant stability, wealth, and social order. But van Gogh’s soul demanded color and passion, not comfort. He followed the path of his inner truth, though it led him through poverty, loneliness, and despair. He was ridiculed in life, yet the world later recognized the beauty born of his suffering. His life illustrates Jung’s teaching: the recipe for one man’s joy — conformity and security — was the poison of another’s soul. Only by following his own light, however painful, did van Gogh fulfill his destiny.

The ancients, too, understood this wisdom. In the temples of Delphi, above the sacred oracle, were inscribed the words: “Know thyself.” This was not mere advice — it was commandment. For only through self-knowledge can one discern which “shoe” fits one’s own spirit. The wise do not imitate blindly; they listen inwardly. The warrior and the poet, the mother and the monk — each must craft their own pattern of living. To walk another’s path is to betray the purpose for which the soul was born. Thus, Jung’s words echo the timeless call to authenticity, to honor the design written in one’s own heart.

Yet this path is not easy. The world is filled with voices telling us how to live — what to value, what to fear, what to become. It takes courage to refuse these borrowed truths, to say, “This is not my way.” The hero’s journey begins not in the conquest of others, but in the conquest of imitation. The greatest chains are not those placed by tyrants, but those we forge ourselves when we seek approval instead of truth. To free oneself from those chains is to begin living one’s own story — a story no other can write.

And so, my children, take this teaching to heart: there is no single recipe for life. Seek not to measure your worth by another’s standard, nor your happiness by another’s smile. Look instead within, where your true compass lies. Ask yourself: What calls to my soul? What brings me alive? Let that be your guide. The path will not be the same as your brother’s or your teacher’s, but it will be yours — and that is its sanctity.

To live well, then, is to live truthfully. When the world hands you its shoes, try them if you must, but never force them upon your feet. Find what fits the contours of your being — what brings peace to your spirit and strength to your steps. For in the end, the divine does not judge how closely you walked another’s road, but how faithfully you walked your own. And when you reach the final turning, barefoot and free, you will know, as Jung knew, that life is not meant to be copied — it is meant to be created.