Pivot

The Art of Being Flexible Throughout Life

vol. 1 | ch. 2

January 2022 | By: Trisha Srigiriraju

Think about what we could do if the uncertainties of life didn’t affect us so much. Would life look different? Would it feel different? Unfortunately, we live in a world with thousands of uncertainties. Nothing is promised, but so much of our fear and suffering comes from expecting everything to go exactly as we planned. Why is it that we think we are able to control each and every thing that happens to us in life? Why is it that no matter how many times life tries to show us that we’re not in charge, we still experience crushing disappointment, pain, and helplessness when things don’t go our way?

Think about every aspect of life. We have a plan, an idea of how we want things to go. And it’s great to have this, for intention is everything. But even when we try our best, when we want something badly, when we do everything we possibly can, sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. Sometimes, life decides to upend all our grand plans, all our wishes and dreams and goals, and sets us on a completely different path. But the problem arises when we think of this new path as a failure, when really, it is only just a pivot. For when we pivot, we learn. We understand where things went awry, we see how things could be improved, we gain invaluable experience, and become richer, fuller individuals as a result.

Uncertainty breeds innovation. It gives us the knowledge, lessons, and growth that are so often necessary to achieve all the goals and grand plans we had for ourselves in the first place. It is in life’s multiple pivots where we truly find ourselves, what we value, and our place in this wide world. It is in the pivots, where we start to finally understand and accept each and every situation and life event that occurs, because we no longer seek to control it. We focus instead on what is in our power, and that is our mindset-how we choose to react, how we choose to perceive the multiple pivots of life and move forward. We can either choose to view it all from a lens of victimhood, or we can choose to empower ourselves by viewing it as a lesson, a challenge, a way to grow and become a more enriched person.

The minute we start to shift our mindset into this way of thinking, life becomes so much easier. There is less pressure, less fear, less doubt, because no matter what happens, we know that we’ll be alright. We are less attached to the outcome and more invested in the journey. We are focused on ourselves, our growth, and living the life that we want to be living, instead of placing all our hopes and happiness on a singular event or goal. And when we decide to shift in this way, things naturally start falling into place. More opportunities present themselves, more of what we want starts showing up in our spheres of influence, and this is what it means to attract. This is what it means when we say our thoughts shape our reality.

Once we accept our own lack of control, once we detach ourselves and divest from our previous mentality, we begin to feel liberated. There is agency in detaching from the outcome. There is joy in finding acceptance and appreciation for all of life’s ups and downs. There is peace in knowing that we don’t know much of anything, but we are still showing up and trying anyway. Uncertainty now becomes a part of life instead of something to dread or fear. We are no longer held frozen in place by the murky waters of what is to come. Instead, we are able to focus on the current reality, to exist in this exact moment, to completely surrender ourselves to presence. We are finally free.

Reference: https://artofbreathing.medium.com/pivot-b1a62a1834ee

Trisha Srigiriraju’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofbreathing_/

Cover Image: Maksym Ivashchenko