Preparing To Shift

When you think about the instances when some type of shift happens, there is a moment of pause that makes one reflect on what is about to transpire.  If we think about the shift in the weather, we get a notice of some sort that the elements are about to make some significant changes that may alter how we dress, commute or perhaps plan for travel.  Most of these things when they occur are a bit unexpected, until you realize there is no way to tailor Mother Nature's course and instead  of expecting the pattern to change, we are the one's that have to make the adjustments.  As I was thinking about all of this recently, I thought about our own ability to shift as well.  One of the other thoughts I had as I contemplated the word shift, was when I first learned to drive a car.  I fondly remember our old Plymouth Valiant, which had the gears on the steering column was the car that I learned how to drive in.  When I was young many vehicles had a standard transmission and learning to shift gears was part of the training that took place if you wanted to drive a car.  As I think about all of this in my current experience, I see how similar the motion of shifting can be to our regular lives.  When you shift a gear in a car there may be some immediate hesitance, because you have to find the right balance between the clutch and gas pedal, all the while keeping a firm hand on the gear shift.  It is a matter of multi-tasking while keeping your eyes on the road that when done properly, allows the vehicle to finally move forward in incremental speeds.  As I think about how this relates to life itself, I can certainly see some interesting similarities.  If we want to shift and do something different in our lives, we have to pause a moment and contemplate what that may ultimately mean to us.  There are always ramifications to any action and we have to be prepared to identify what most of those are, as our resolve helps us to make the full commitment of following through to any change.  Also similar to shifting gears in a car, the process may not go smoothly at first.  Especially as you get used to the cadence and rhythm of the gears going forward.  A shift of any capacity can cause an alteration that may be minimal for some, yet significant for others.  Interestingly, the process of how you react to all of this is determined by the conditioning you have undergone through out your life.  If you are expecting changes all the time and have made it part of your everyday existence, then it is expected when it happens and there are very little or no surprises.  However, resistant behavior to change can become an obstacle that can cause further consequences of a negative nature.  Rather than focusing on why change could be interpreted with a non-positive reaction, I say that you must condition your mind for this consistent expectation.  When I think about all of the shifting that can occur within the span of one year, I am almost in awe of the amount of items that I can count during the course of that twelve month experience that have altered a different course.  We can get very used to living in our own comfort bubble of sorts, where the status quo becomes the norm.  However, there tends to be a lack of vitality that can accompany this type of thinking.  I would rather live a life that is filled with possibilities that causes me to think about what new learning lies for me within the near horizon.  I am hopeful that this is also how others would strive to live as well.  Ultimately, we can be the type of people that struggle with life shifts on an ongoing basis, or we can learn to transition smoothly as we pick up speed.  The question is ultimately how do you wish to proceed with your life?  My desire in others would be that you choose to accept all changes with open arms, as they will ultimately allow you to grow and become more of the person that you are striving to be.  Remember to prepare your thinking for change as it being constant and the more comfortable you find yourself aligned with this thinking, the easier your future shifting will be.