Power of the Pivot

Often in life, we become too deeply ingrained and far along in a journey than to indeed start over or quit. These instances typically involve areas of our life that we cannot just go back to the drawing board or abandon the plan; we are forced to change our direction. The best way to describe this moment when we need to change direction is often called the “power of the pivot.”

When we need to change the direction of our path often occurs when we hit a dead-end in the journey, or we are faced with a permanent stagnation of growth once we arrive at a certain point of the journey. The purpose of the “power of the pivot” is that when we hit a dead need, we need to pivot the direction of the path to continue without going back to the drawing board altogether. Accordingly, let’s look at ways you can gracefully embrace the power of the pivot in your life.

What Pivoting Looks Like?

Let’s be honest, pivoting direction with anything in life is not always pretty or glamorous to do. I find it essential to set goals and see them through. However, as we set goals and learn new skills to achieve them, it is also vital for us to be honest with ourselves and give ourselves room to keep adjusting to different things that we may want to experience.

For example, when I first moved to Park City, I didn’t know a soul. Aside from my kids, the closest person I knew was over 1,000 miles away. I joined a triathlon club to meet new people who enjoy athleticism. I continued this for a couple of years and thought that while this is fun, I do not enjoy swimming. The self-reflection from that experience is where I decided to stop doing triathlons for a while and focus more on mountain biking. From there, I began hiking, and trail running and then fell in love with mountaineering and started on this seven 2nd summit quest. These are just a few of the broader turns in my life where the pivot was gradual and created out of my life that I liked less while spending more time on things I wanted more.

Pivoting Can Be Positive

The power of the pivot does not need to be viewed as unfavorable yet should be considered a way to change the course without throwing out the plan altogether. Many people may often have issues with accepting the fact that growth in something is limited or that you have hit a dead-end in that direction. Change, let alone taking a change in leadership in life, can be a challenge for most people who prefer to stay within comfort and stability.

Eventually, you will reach the end of the road. No one road is all straight and narrow or, let alone, lasts forever. Like driving on the road, we have to change directions and take turns when we want to get to where we wish. We have experienced more prepared pivots, and my own fair share of sharp and abrupt left turns within my life.

Learn To Lean Into The Pivot

The way I like to view the power of pivoting in life is like this: at some point, you become so in flow with the universe and what you want your life to mean that you don’t even notice the pivots. For me, the key to pivoting is taking the time to reflect on what is working and what isn’t. How can you do less of what isn’t and more of what is. Keep making those pivots and adjustments to create the life you desire. Allow space in your life for being new at things to expand your interests. Welcome change, and remember that we have one short life as we know it, so stay in motion, keep discovering yourself, honoring what you are learning about yourself, and becoming more of what you like.