Today, I want to share a little story from my recent drive on a hilly road. It’s a story about focus, fear, and finding solutions in life.

So a couple of days back I was driving up this winding, curving, hilly road. It’s the kind of road where trucks and other vehicles can suddenly appear out of nowhere. My daughter was sitting with me and she just asked, “Aren’t you scared of these trucks that are appearing suddenly?” and I promptly answered no I am not. I was calm, confident even. I was enjoying it as I am passionate about driving. And then it hit me—why wasn’t I scared? Because in my childhood even crossing a road was a big deal for me as I was scared of trucks.

I realized something important. I wasn’t scared because my focus wasn’t on the trucks or the vehicles that could appear at any moment. My focus was on the empty road ahead, the space where I could steer my car. I was concentrating on where I could go, not on the obstacles that might come my way.

This got me thinking about life in general. How often do we get swayed by the challenges, the obstacles, the “trucks” that suddenly appear on our path? How often do we focus on the problems instead of the solutions?

Imagine if we shifted our focus. Instead of getting bogged down by what’s going wrong, what if we looked at where we could go? What if we concentrated on the actionable solutions, the empty road where we can drive our lives forward?

This is a fact that this kind of fearlessness grows over time and through practice. It’s not a trait that suddenly appears overnight or you are born with. It develops gradually, often supported by the confidence and faith shown by our family and friends. I still remember my parents making fun of me when I once told them how I would cross the road alone while going to school. They are the ones who believed in me and encouraged me to have driving skills. This is a fact when others believe in us, it strengthens our self-belief. I’m really grateful to my parents for consistently believing in and encouraging me to have driving skills.

Exposure to small challenging situations early in life is crucial, too. These experiences prepare us to handle bigger challenges later on. Just like learning to ride a bike or swim, each little step makes children more prepared for the next.

Think of a time when you faced a big challenge. Maybe it was at work, in a relationship, or even a personal goal. Did you find yourself stuck, thinking about all the things that could go wrong?or what are people saying about you Or did you focus on what you could do to move forward?

It’s like driving. If you only focus on the trucks and the other vehicles, you’ll feel overwhelmed, maybe even paralyzed by fear. But if you focus on the road ahead, on the space where you can move, you’ll find your way through.

So next time you’re facing a challenge, remember to keep your focus on the solutions and the actions you can take. The obstacles will come and go, but your focus can keep you moving forward.