When Life Hands You Pivots

I've been thinking a lot about the word pivot lately.

It's funny how a word can suddenly start showing up everywhere.

Over the last few months, I've seen and heard it used in conversations about careers, relationships, personal growth, and life in general. Each time, something about hearing it stayed with me.

I’m beginning to understand why.

A pivot is a change in direction.

Change can be viewed as failure, or an error in judgment from a previous wrong direction. When in reality, a pivot is simply recognizing that where we are now requires moving differently than we’ve done before.

I've found myself thinking about the different areas of my own life where change is happening. My career. Shameless Voices. The way I look at relationships. Even the way I see myself is changing regularly.

Life has a way of teaching us as we go.

We gather experiences and learn more as we grow. We discover things about ourselves as a reflection of the journeys we take throughout our lives.

So naturally, our direction can change in the process.

There is freedom in recognizing this process and making necessary adjustments.

A pivot isn't always about the feeling of leaving something behind. It’s about taking everything you've learned and being willing to adjust your direction when life, and perhaps God, shows you there's more ahead.

Honestly, I find something exciting about learning how to loosen my grip on things I don't have any control over.

Even while saturated in fear on some days, I'm becoming more comfortable with the idea that changing direction doesn't mean I've lost my way. A difference in perspective is saying, maybe I’m finding my way now more than ever.

I am embracing the pivots of life without the pressure of thinking I have to have it all figured out before taking a leap of faith. I won't lie and say that every step is rose petals. I will say, that the thorns are showing me a little more about the direction I need to focus my attention on, so that I can lean into the pivots and adjust as needed.

The journey is in the day to day. The pivots may be just as subtle.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

This Weeks Reflection

Where in your life are you beginning to feel a shift?

A new opportunity may be asking for your attention, or you may simply be seeing your life through a different lens.

Whatever is happening, give yourself permission to consider a new direction. While embracing that a pivot could be an act of courage.

Until next time,

Nicole Z.