Shift Gears....

What’s up Family & Happy New Year!!!

I know it has been a minute since I penned a post to the masses so here, we are!! A new year, A new day and new opportunities to be better than we were yesterday!!!

As the old saints say, I won’t be before you long 😊

I was backing into my garage recently and as I pulled in perfectly; I reached for my bag, forgetting to “SHIFT” the gears. A notice in “red” on my dashboard and a beeping sound alerted me that my vehicle was still in active rolling position. Catching it right on time I hit the brake before causing an unnecessary in-home crash and put the vehicle in the park position. As I prepared to exit the now parked vehicle I began to reflect on other areas where I became so distracted or in a hurry that I failed to shift gears and, in some cases, caused a few preventable crashes…. ever been there? You know, knowing it’s time to shift gears, relocate, enroll, move, apply, leave, or lean in but you kept your foot on the brake when it was time to press the gas or vice versa? If so, then you understand the extent of the reflection that hit my spirit as I came out of this moment. Before I knew it , I began to go down a rabbit hole that is slowly forcing me to SHIFT gears and I want to encourage you to do the same!

As you jumpstart this second week of 2023, I encourage you to SHIFT gears and do whatever it takes to get what you are after in this season of your life! Doing the same thing repeatedly expecting a different result defines INSANITY and I want you (me) to remain SANE this go round. Unlike other coaches and speakers (no shade) I am NOT telling you to create an unrealistic plan and have all the answers in a day. What I am charging you with as you take up space in 2023, is to approach each new minute, hour and day with a distraction free attitude, with the ability to quiet yourself when you need to be quiet and to increase your voice in times where you need to speak up. I am challenging you to do a self-assessment and figure out what is working for you and what is NOT. To do this type of reflection, one must be ready to be brutally HONEST with self!! Remove the lies you have told yourself about your limits, capacity, and desire.

Start there and then shift gears accordingly!!

Driver’s Legend

· P-Park it - Be still, Stay put right where you are. You are safe, the space is covered and out of harms way. This gear is hard for many because sometimes you want to move but right where you are is the best place for you for NOW. You won’t always stay in this position but when it’s time to make a move or take that ride you know exactly where you are headed! For someone else who has been shifting gears a lot this is a season of rest, reset and ultimately PEACE.

· R- Reverse it (Back that thang up) …. This is where falling back helps you to FALL FORWARD. Rather you left a person, place, or thing pre-maturely, ran too far ahead, came close to a wreck or you can’t CLEAR the sidewalk (objects) in order to move forward you must back up a bit to make it all make sense. Sometimes going back is a blessing in disguise and it will save you! (Not sure who needed that)

· N – Neutral is a sign of surrender. Some could view this as the safe gear but if you know anything about a car in Neutral, it can still be moved, pushed, or influenced when in Neutral. It’s the position that accepts help from others too!

· D- Press the GAS!!! It is Time to Drive. GPS is set and it’s time to GO! Don’t look back, keep your eyes ahead and GO!!!

What I love about shifting gears is that we can all be in different gears at the same time yet still making moves!! There are people who need to PARK IT and there are others that have spent far too much time with one foot on the brake every few minutes catching low level whiplash when the speed limit is 80mph and you should press the gas! No matter where you are in your shifting know that you are right where you are supposed to be!!! I cannot stress that enough.

I spent days and months grieving the life I thought I should have, missing valuable moments and opportunities to embrace, love and nurture the life I have been given TODAY. Shifting gears required me to Park in one season , take Neutral in another so I could be affirmed and poured into in a way that would MOVE ME ( pun intended, Therapy, Friends, Family, Mentors) and I am now re-entering the DRIVE phase in my journey. See I know how to drive , I went through driver’s training at 16 , I got my license ( stamp of approval) but NATURE , inclement weather , geographic location and other things will cause you to forget what you knew before and force you to learn a thing all over again …..But whatever it takes you can do it , WE can do it and We are going to get to it!!

Don’t FORGET to SHIFT GEARS where needed this week!!

It all starts with YOU and the VISION you have for yourself . See it through!

Let's work!

Love ya,

R. Rene’