Why Shift Gears?

What "Keep cookin'" has to do with feeling empowered

Linked to my Substack

—

“Honestly, the best time to act on something is when your motivation is high. Not necessarily at it’s highest. Just in the ‘flow’ state of the ebb-and-flow” (see what I did there?). This is my anecdotal interpretation of a quote which I first heard by the late motivational speaker and life coach, Jim Rohn, a few years ago.

It hit me like a fast train on steroids. I didn’t quite understand what it meant then, but I did understand what it was trying to tell me. You know what I mean? At the time I was in one of my many, proverbial, quarterly, quarter-life crises and in and amongst the many Tony Robbins, Oprah, Les Brown, Will Smith motivational YouTube videos I was inhaling, unexpectedly up popped this Jim Rohn clip from an elderly white brother, whom I wasn’t searching for (an interesting bias discovered for a post another day), that forever changed my perspective. Not to be dramatic or anything. Here is the clip even

Why this, why now

If you don’t know me, allow me to introduce myself. And, yes. Very much intendedly said with the tone of Jay-Z. Hi! My name is Matt Schiff. Matthew when I am in trouble. And, I’m also trying to figure this all out - just like you. I’ve just upgraded into the third level of life, the dirty-thirties, and I actually just realised that I enjoy being creative. Collaboratively creative to throw out a buzz phrase and mission in fact. I feel like I’ve also known this about myself, but for some reason I only just found the words to describe this feeling.

At some stage in life I would put money on the fact that we all feel this way. A not-so-sudden, sudden, “holy sh*t, this feels a bit more like me” feeling. And, before I lose you, this write-up is not to tell you that you’re a good or bad person for admitting this to yourself sooner than later. I guess at some stage though, with a bit of self-encouragement and a strong coffee (or whiskey), you just start to believe it more.

This was kind of my experience. If I’m honest, it wasn’t that scary either. Which IS actually scary. “Whyyyy have I put my LIFE on pause for so long instead of just admitting that this is what I like to do AND get energy from??” - this time, to be totally dramatic.

If you do know me, you’ll also know that I freaken love wordplay! Puns to be specific. In names, phrases, and sometimes masked behind a shocking dad joke as well. If you couldn’t tell, a classic example is literally the title of this post, my new brand, and the sub-title, which we’ll get to. “SHIFT Gears” is a genius* wordplay on my surname “Matt SCHIFF” and, an ode to my dirty-thirty mission, create collaboratively.

*Disclaimer: Often times I find my wordplay much funnier than those subjected to my childish, yet creative, behaviour. We live and we learn.

You’re not alone

At some stage, you simply need to start. To try even. For what it’s worth, as an A-type, ENFJ, pisces, perfectionist I love to hate failing. There are so many trigger words in this last sentence alone, that if you got it, you get me. If you did not get it, then that’s okay too. There’ll be more posts to tuck into these self-imposed stories and beliefs another day.

The point is - I see you. And, there are more of us out there than you know. You think there are a lot, but really, you’re grossly underestimating just how many people have the same thoughts and challenges as you do.

Try.

Start.

(As I whisper this to myself as a reminder too).

Start.

Try.

Shifting gears is dynamic and quite literally, empowering. To gear up or down in vehicle (i.e. deal with the realities of life), is to put your hand on the gear stick (your life), and respond (give more or less power). A grossly diluted interpretation of what actually happens within a car when changing gears to all of my mechanics, sure, but you get the point. Even if you only know how to drive an automatic (read as: you’ve been living a certain type of way on autopilot for some time), you still need to shift that gear stick into reverse and park from time to time.

Now what?

This is a safe space for you and me. I promise to try my utmost best and not come across as an expert in such a sensitive subject matter - because really it is - and I certainly have my fair share of “what the f*ck’s is going on”. However, I have picked up a few wonky fingers as battle scars [experience] and genuinely have worked, lived, and workshopped with; watched, listened, read, and spoken to; some of the most incredible human minds. And, it would be a privilege to have you walk along this journey as I share some of these pearls.

There’ll be no promise of daily, weekly, or monthly write-ups right now. Nor is there any hidden agenda behind these posts. If something within these paragraphs resonate with you, screenshot them for your forgotten “Quote and Inspo” photo app folder, or share it as an insta caption. If anything within these words moves you in such a way that you have to share it with your bestie or on the family WhatsApp group, then please do that too. That kind of love goes a long way to help the platform.

Mostly though - if you’re feeling the heat to do something different in your life - here is your sign to keep cookin’!

Linked to my Substack