Pivot

Pivot.  Sometimes life requires us to make a hard left when we thought we would be going straight for a while.  Different from flexibility, resilience or being open to change, a pivot requires a full adjustment without the benefit of time or planning.  It can be emotional and disruptive.  It can literally take your breath away.

Pivots have pervaded personal and professional conversations over the past few weeks.

Job Security – Work may not be great, but you don’t think your employment is at risk.  Until it is.  You get the call or email, you have the conversation (it is quick), your head is spinning, and your emotions run the gamut.  Career Pivot.

Relationships – Your relationship is good; or okay; maybe it is just fine.  Then a text or phone call and the other person is ending your friendship or marriage.  You can be shocked or just surprised, or maybe even a little relieved.  Relationships can be for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  People change; circumstances change; wants and needs change. Relationship Pivot.

Caregiving – When you rely on others for caregiving of your children or parents, you are dependent on their availability and everything can change in an instant.  Caregiving changes can be short term or open-ended.  You may need to find a new care provider or step in more fully to meet the needs of others, often putting your own needs to the side.  Responsibility Pivot.

Health – You feel good, stay on top of regular preventative care and then a doctor refers you to a specialist or for more tests.  And those tests come back with a diagnosis you were ill-prepared (pun intended) to face.  Full Stop Life Pivot.

Life has been life-ing – hard.  This season has included conversations on job loss, terminating employees, friendships ending, divorce, quitting nannies, closing daycares, stepping in as a caregiver for parents, breast cancer diagnoses, treatment options, and loss.  And when life requires, we pivot. 

We have to make difficult choices, often in the moment, often without all of the information or data we need to find long term solutions.  

FOR NOW – What is the best way to address the current challenge and concern?  What resources do you have or need to get through this moment, hour, day or week?  Short-term thinking can make the challenge more manageable, leading to a long-term solution.

DATA – What data do you have and what do you need to know to make informed decisions – short or long term?  Focus on what you need to know, put one foot in front of the other and avoid looking too far down the road.

PAUSE – It is easy to get ahead ourselves, looking for what we can control in a chaotic moment.  The best thing may be to slow down, process your thoughts and list your questions.  Ask others to help you think clearly and weigh options.  What support do you need and what support can you request?  A thought partner, sounding board or advisor may be able to help you find clarity in a moment that can feel emotional, isolating and confusing.

And because it is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I want to remind you of a cause that is literally close to my heart.  A breast cancer diagnosis will cause a full stop and require a full pivot of your priorities.

Get your mamms grammed.  

• If you are a woman, conduct monthly self-exams, schedule and keep your screening appointments.  Take Advil before and buy yourself a gift after.  Encourage friends, mothers, sisters, co-workers to prioritize their self-care.  

• If you are a man, support the women in your life by encouraging them to keep screening appointments.  Partners, mothers, sisters, friends – they need to hear from you that their health matters.

• Whatever the news is, surround yourself with the support that you need.  Information is power and laughter heals

  
  

Let’s all do our part to prevent life’s pivots and support each other when you are required to pivot in this thing called life … together.