Honoring the Pause in Preparation for the Pivot

*PING*

That was the last sound I heard before I enabled "Do Not Disturb" on my phone to silence my notifications. Life was feeling overwhelming and I was feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted. Things on my To-Do List were piling up and nothing was being checked off. My sense of accomplishment was replaced with analysis paralysis and I felt stuck.

When I sat my phone down after silencing my notifications, a lightbulb went off in my brain. The overwhelming feeling that I felt for the past three weeks wasn't going to go away unless I did one thing: Honor the Pause.

"Nisheena, what is Honoring the Pause?"

Honoring the Pause is a term that was introduced to me by a colleague of mine, Shawntá. Shawntá is a Mindfulness Executive Coach and she taught me that Honoring the Pause is a practice that gives a person the space and time to slow down and reconnect with themselves.

When I enabled "Do Not Disturb" on my phone to silence my notifications, I unconsciously gave myself permission to Honor the Pause. I poured myself a cup of Nutty Caramel coffee, sat in my favorite chair, took a deep breath in, and exhaled. In the five minutes it took me to do those things, it felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. My body relaxed and I finally felt like I had some clarity.

With a relaxed body and a clear mind, I took out my Cast Your Vision Goal Setting Workbook to reflect on the progress of my year thus far. As I was reflecting, my eyes widened. I was able to see in black and white (or in my case, blue, pink, and white since I use colored pens 😉) that I needed to pivot so I could still fulfill my goals for the year.

​“Pivoting is not the end of the disruption process, but the beginning of the next leg of your journey.”
- Jay Samit

Sometimes, things happen that force us to change direction and pivot from our original plans. For me, it was recovering from food poisoning and getting my symptoms in check after seasonal allergies landed me in Urgent Care. Whatever life may bring you, the ability to pivot is essential to navigating through life's unexpected challenges. Pivoting requires that you practice ​mindfulness and sit with yourself to see what is currently working and isn't working in your life so you can make the necessary adjustments to still be able to thrive. Pivoting helps strengthen your emotional intelligence because you have to be flexible, adaptable, and resilient in the face of change. When we pivot, we're not giving up on our goals or dreams; we're simply finding a new path to get there.

Now that we have established what pivoting is and its importance, let's look at some steps that you can take to pivot effectively:

1. Acknowledge and accept your need to pivot: It's okay to feel disappointed, angry, or scared, but don't let your emotions take you off track. Instead, focus on what you can control and take action. This might mean reevaluating your goals and finding innovative ways to fulfill them or realizing that the goal that you set may need to be tabled during this season of your life.
2. Be open to new opportunities and possibilities: Sometimes, a setback can lead to an even better outcome than you originally planned. By being open to learning and exploring new options in fulfilling your goals, you can discover new passions, talents, and opportunities you never knew existed while you broaden your perspective on life.
3. Stay optimistic and keep moving forward: Pivoting can be challenging, but it's also an opportunity for growth and learning. By embracing change and staying focused on your goals, you will open yourself to taking in critical new information that will ensure your success. This is true regardless of the nature of your goals. Whether professional or personal, our ability to achieve any goal is greatly enhanced by active feedback loops that allow us to make informed adjustments as we go.

One of the things that helps me know when to pivot is the Phoenix Rise Wellness Cast Your Vision Goal Setting Workbook. This workbook is a portable plan of action, one that goes where you go so you can fulfill your heart's desire in 365 days. It walks you through the process of how you can fulfill your goals to ensure that you reach your quarterly and yearly goals. Below is an in-depth look inside the workbook. Press the play button to view the video.

Pivoting is an essential skill that we all need to develop to navigate through life's unexpected challenges. By adopting a flexible mindset, being open to new opportunities, and staying optimistic, we can successfully pivot and achieve our goals, no matter what life throws our way.

In Service and With Love,