I can just about guarantee you have already done the Process of Pivoting—and you probably didn’t even know it. But I doubt very much you called it The Process of Pivoting.
My hope is you embrace the Process of Pivoting and do it more intentionally and regularly. Which means over time, you’ll also do it with more ease and more success. It will become second nature.
So what is the Process of Pivoting?
Very simply, it’s when you notice negative emotion and pivot from focusing on what is unwanted to focusing on what is wanted.
Let me give you an example.
Let’s say you start thinking about your To Do list, work projects, and overbooked schedule—and start to feel overwhelm. You get a fluttery, panicked feeling and there’s a weight on your shoulders.
You are feeling overwhelm, which puts you smack dab in the middle of the emotional scale. Well, in that moment, in that awareness of how you’re feeling, you have an opportunity to pivot.
Pivoting is turning away from the thought that made you feel the negative emotion and turning toward a thought that allows you to feel positive emotion—or at least an emotion further up the emotional scale than where you were.
“Anytime you feel negative emotion, stop and say: Something is important here; otherwise, I would not be feeling this negative emotion. What is it that I want? And then simply turn your attention to what you do want… . In the moment you turn your attention to what you want, the negative attraction will stop; and in the moment the negative attraction stops, the positive attraction will begin. And—in that moment—your feeling will change from not feeling good to feeling good. That is the Process of Pivoting.” —Abraham
I believe you can break the process of pivoting into these two components:
- First, awareness of how you’re feeling.
- Second, willingness and want to pivot to a thought that feels better.
You need to be aware of how you’re feeling so you know when pivoting is called for. And you have to be willing to pivot. You have to want to feel better.
And here’s the thing: Sometimes you’re not going to feel like pivoting. You’re going to want to stay in that icky feeling place—as crazy as that sounds. There will no doubt be times when you want wallow a bit and feel sorry for yourself.
Maybe you’ve been wronged and you want to hang on to feeling hurt. Or you would rather be right than be happy. Hey, I sometimes hang on to being right over being happy. That’s something I do more than I’d like to admit.
You’re not always going to pivot. Sometimes you’re not going to pivot because you were not aware of feeling negative emotion. You’ll be so much IN the negative feeling state that you won’t really bring awareness to how you’re feeling.
And, at other times, you’ll very much know you’re feeling negative emotion, but you won’t fulfill the second part of the process, which is a willingness and a want to pivot.
I call it a willingness and a want because in that moment, you have to be willing to pivot. You have to want to pivot. Otherwise, the momentum of your thoughts and negative feelings can just continue to carry you in the direction of what is unwanted.
“The most valuable skill or talent that you could ever develop is that of directing your thoughts toward what you want—to be adept at quickly evaluating all situations and then quickly coming to the conclusion of what you most want—and then giving your undivided attention to that. There is a tremendous skill in deliberately directing your own thoughts that will yield results that cannot be compared with results that mere action can provide.” —Abraham
This is ninja level managing your mind.
So the Process of Pivoting is about deliberately directing your own thoughts.
“When you deliberately apply the Process of Pivoting, which means you are deliberately choosing your own thoughts, which means you are deliberately choosing your vibrational point of attraction, you are also deliberately choosing how your life unfolds. Pivoting is the process of deliberately focusing your attention with the intent of directing your own life experience.” —Money, and the Law of Attraction
I know you want to direct your own life experience, right? Because that’s the only way you can truly create the life you crave, a life you love.
Well, the only way to direct your own life experience is by deliberately focusing your attention. Which means pivoting when you find your attention is on something unwanted, something producing negative emotion.
The Process of Pivoting is what you’re going to use when you realize your point of attraction is not what you want it to be. Meaning it’s not going to attract what you really want into your life.
- If you’re worried about your kids or your finances or your health, worry is your point of attraction.
- If you’re angry about something that happened last month at work, anger is your point of attraction.
- If you’re discouraged and disappointed about your relationship, discouragement and disappointment are your point of attraction.
“Your emotions are telling you everything you need to know about your point of attraction.” —Abraham
If you’re feeling positive emotion, you’re attracting positive. If you’re feeling negative emotion, you’re attracting negative.
Practice pivoting.
Think about when you really do pivot on your heel or your toes. Maybe stand up right now and pivot. It’s just a gentle turn. From facing one direction to facing another.
You didn’t have to climb a mountain or leap a tall building. You just pivot.
You just turn FROM what is unwanted and causing negative emotion and you turn TO what is wanted and causes positive emotion.
When you notice you’re feeling negative emotion, that’s a sign. It doesn’t mean something has gone wrong, but it is a signal to you. And if you heed it, your life will improve.
So when you notice negative emotion, no problem. No craziness necessary. You don’t need to beat yourself up or overreact.
No, you just need to lean into the Process of Pivoting. To consciously decide to shift your focus to what you do want. To intentionally give your attention to what is wanted. To pivot.
“So, if it’s something that you want, give it more attention. If it’s something that you don’t want, give it less attention. How do you give something less attention? By giving something else attention.” —Abraham
