PIVOT! When your vision is expanding…
Image: Jennifer mela444
We ALL feel like our first idea is the crème de la crème… chef’s kiss. And it absolutely is! You’ve been killin’ that project and doing what you gotta do to crush those goals. You’re at the point now where it’s easy. Too easy. And almost like clockwork, a new desire, opportunity or even a feeling of dissatisfaction arises. This is your sign that expansion is in order. I can feel your heart rate increasing as you ask:
“What do you mean expand? Bigger? I don't know about that, I like where I am.”
Yeah, you may be flowin’. But are you growin’? The vision you were given was only the beginning, and now it’s time to pivot.
Your heart knows you’ve outgrown this phase of your creative project or mission. You’ve already been getting new, exciting ideas that light you up inside. We often get stuck right here at the beginning of the pivot. Our emotions take over, and doubt creeps in. “What if I step out into the unknown and fail completely (AND PUBLICLY)”? This is valid, and very normal, sis. But here’s the thing; nervousness doesn't mean stop. It's just your brain trying to protect you from a new experience, as it considers it “unsafe and dangerous.” I won’t say overcoming this is as simple as a few daily affirmations (although it wouldn’t hurt to try), but I will tell you that failure does not exist and fear is “false evidence appearing real.” Cliche, I know. Once you can welcome the shift with these perspectives, your nervous system should relax just enough to get out of your head and take an action step in your new direction.
Ready for the next phase? This one brings in the practical pieces of expanding your vision. You may be struggling with all of these, or only a few. I’ll let you choose where you need to focus by putting these in bullet points. I bet you won’t have many challenges with the first one though.
Learning: Gaining new knowledge and skill-building is honestly one of my favorite parts of starting something new. YouTube University comes in clutch for whatever we need. Building a website? Launching a new product? Need help with Canva? Black women have proven themselves to be true knowledge seekers. I mean, look at all those degrees!
Time Management: Pivoting most likely will put you back in beginner mode where there is a lot of trial and error. Something you thought should only take a few weeks is actually taking MONTHS. “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” Late nights have you questioning your sanity, wishing you’d just stuck to your original vision. Let me stop you right there: you’re building something great! A strong foundation takes time, and once it’s set, there’s no breaking down! The goal here is to stay dedicated and devoted to the vision.
Support: I’ll be honest, this might be the hardest to navigate. Is this still a solo project or do you now need a team to execute this vision? Do you feel alone in the journey, like no one understands nor knows how to help? Is financial assistance, like a grant or loan needed? Ask yourself what you need to be successful and don’t be afraid to seek out mentors. Let people show up for you. Community is strategy, not a bonus, and support makes growth sustainable.
Alright, this last phase is for the spiritual girlies. You have taken control of your emotions and are stepping confidently in your new direction. The momentum is building, and you’re feeling proud. The last phase, which may go ignored by some, is to solidify the energy. This is the phase where you’re grounded and aligned. Less thinking, more feeling. Your intuition is guiding you, and you know when to move forward and when to stand still. This is where you understand your rhythm and flow. This is where you understand that moving too fast might lead to destruction. Sometimes expansion looks like action, while at other times it looks like rest and reduction. The higher power that gave you that initial spark is always with you, guiding you through every phase.
Once that resonates in your heart without question, then you, my friend, are ready to expand again. Expansion is rarely a giant leap, but is instead a lot of small pivots. Things may not look how you thought they would in the beginning, but that’s the beauty of it all. There’s always bigger, better, and more. However your vision expands, and whatever twists and turns your life might take, we at The Brownstone Magazine are forever rooting for you, and the only thing that matters is that you don’t stop.