When a car starts climbing a steep slope, a good driver changes gear. He realises that the gear which was appropriate for moving at a high speed on a straight road will not be useful to climb a slope. It is the same with our lives. Our ability to recognise changing circumstances and shift gears in our life will hold us in good stead.

There are times we need to move from being growth-oriented to consolidating things. It does not mean that we have given up our plans and ambitions. It is the prudent assessment that chasing growth when circumstances are not favourable could lead to unnecessary wastage of resources and reserves.

Even the best of cars slows down when climbing uphill. When we change our fast-paced attitude and allow ourselves time to deliberate longer in uncertain times, we are not losing our edge, but rather, we are sharpening our perspective.

Sometimes we find ourselves waiting longer than we had expected to. Our ability to recognise the newfound resource of time, and rededicate ourselves to something productive and inspiring, will sustain our energy. But we need to be ready to shift our normal thinking pattern and be open to exploring new opportunities.

A car is under a lot more pressure and uses a lot more fuel when climbing up. When we see an uphill phase approaching, our ability to tune ourselves physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually will ensure there is no breakdown. It is not the fancy body, but the inner engine of the car that needs to be well-tuned.

Changing gears does not always mean having to slow down. Not only do we need to overcome the hurdles of life, but we also need to overcome the fear and emotional baggage it leaves us with which prevents us from changing gears and moving ahead with greater speed. Driving with fear in a low gear on the expressway is as detrimental as trying to climb in top gear.

And sometimes life creates a diversion. At first, all diversions look like disruptions, but if we change our mental gear and embrace the new reality, a diversion can lead to a discovery we were unaware of.

Changing gears is a function of faith and flexibility. Having faith that if the terrain has changed, we have the inner capacity of changing gears and operating just as well. And having the flexibility of dropping our ego and adapting to change when called upon.

Life is ever-changing, and try as hard as we may, we can never control events and ensure a smooth ride for ourselves. It is not the changing nature of things that will stop us. It is our ability to change gears internally as life changes externally, that will ensure we endure and enjoy the journey.

(Picture-Market Street, St.Andrews, Scotland)