The Power of the Pivot

Curiosity opens the door. The pivot is having the courage to walk through it.

I have noticed something interesting. Almost none of the best things in my life happened according to plan. They happened because I changed direction. Not because the first idea failed. Nope. Because the next idea fit better.

When I started blogging, my passion was to share a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. (Eating only plants has changed my life dramatically, and I am passionate about sharing and pointing interested people to great resources to learn more, such as on my website, rebelwithsuz.com.)

Here is the thing. I soon realized I was really writing about life. I was loving that and became furiously committed to life’s reveals. So here we are and here it is:

THE PIVOT!

My pivot examples:

When I started making videos, I thought I needed to teach. Instead, people connected with ordinary stories and little observations. PIVOT!

Leading the monthly “Getting Your Project Started” at the Center for Nutrition Studies started as a place to help people start projects. Recently, it has become a place to help people believe they were capable of starting. PIVOT!

Even “NUDGE” was not planned. I imagined it representative of an idea waiting to grow. Instead, it appears to be one black fuzzy ball wearing a gold crown and is becoming a symbol of courage, possibility, and hope. PIVOT!

Many years ago, I might have called changing direction inconsistency. Now I call it paying attention. For sure, it is not even close to quitting or failure. It isn’t even admitting the first idea was wrong. A pivot is simply saying, “Now that I know more, I am willing to shift my direction.” That is wisdom.

I am beginning to realize that life does not unfold in straight lines. It unfolds in gentle turns. Each pivot teaches us something. Each course correction reveals something we couldn’t have seen from where we started.

Looking back, nearly everything I treasure today exists because I was willing to change direction. Not always dramatically, just enough. As needed.

Sometimes the smallest turn leads to an entirely different destination. Maybe that is why I am so grateful for curiosity. Curiosity helps us notice and grow.

Looking back, I don’t think life has been asking me to stick to the plan. I think it has been asking me to keep observing, listening, processing, and pivoting when appropriate.

💚 The Accidental Blogger