I used to play basketball a lot. I have a scar on my knee to show for it. It was my favorite sport. One of my earliest memories with Tony is playing ball together in his driveway.
Growing up, in basketball practice we would often work on the fundamentals of the game, and pivoting was one such fundamental. The idea is simple really. If you’re holding the ball in your hands, you can’t take two or more steps. This is called traveling. However, you can plant one foot and then step with the other foot to move into an entirely different position. By rotating on the ball of your foot that is planted, you are able to make a complete 180 degree turn from where you were first facing. The pivot can be game changing if used properly. So it is in our lives.
Today I am choosing to pivot on my negative thoughts (where I all too often first plant myself) and turn towards positive ones. (An exercise I learned from the book Ask and It Is Given.)
It’s dark outside, and I am so worn-out. PIVOT I’ve put in a full day of hard work, and I can fall into bed satisfied.
My bank account dipped into the red this week. How could I let this happen? PIVOT I remember when we didn’t have an emergency fund to pull from when money was tight. I’m so glad I didn’t have to use a credit card this time.
I am dreading the chores that I have to face in the morning. PIVOT I will pick one chore to focus on tomorrow. I will be satisfied with completing one hard thing successfully.
I am scared to death of some of the things I have committed to. PIVOT My dreams are coming true, and I’m going to choose to celebrate and believe God has already given me all I need to be successful in these big endeavors.
Plans that I was looking forward to cancelled. PIVOT Now I have time to do something I’ve been wanting to do, but couldn’t find time for.
I’m re-training my brain to think of the positive. It is a conscious discipline that I’m working on in hopes that I will also train my sub-conscious. With the pivot I am hoping to avoid the dangerous choice to take my negative thought and travel with it. Turn me towards something better. Let me face the positive alternative. May I be aware that only one foot is glued to the floor. The other is free to roam.
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That was wonderful! I really needed this message this morning. Thank you.
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Just yesterday I was thinking about taking my thoughts captive to Christ. Sometimes I literally have to visualize capturing a thought, tying it up, and putting it in the “dungeon” of my mind. I love the analogy of “pivoting” thoughts especially because then the thought isn’t down in the dungeon, festering. It’s been redeemed and made new! It amazes me how often we forget, and how many people don’t even realize, that WE control our thoughts, not the other way around.
I find it easier to capture or pivot my negative thoughts when I am dealing with something really big and scary in my life. I’ve realized lately that I need to practice this in ALL aspects of my thought. Little frustrations with my husband, negative thoughts about my body or my home’s appearance, quick judgments of those around me… I need to capture and pivot those, too!
You’re so right. The little areas are often harder.
Perfect analogy and vivid, literal picture. So much of the battlefield plays out in our minds….and I agree with Katie’s thoughts, too…taking them all captive….loving God will all your mind…
p.s. i don’t know why i didn’t notice it before, probably b/c i come from my reader and i feel like an idiot for even asking, what are the protected posts?
Sssssh. It’s a secret. I emailed you.
I would be happy to email others too who are interested in said secret. Let me know! But keep your voices down. We don’t want to attract attention. 
Ssshh, could I be in on the secret to?
*whispering* yes!
me please ; )
Coming your way. Sssssh!
Mandy,
Another beautiful post with a wonderful exercise! This is such a great visualization to turn your thoughts around. And your examples are so beautiful.
I love Ask and it is Given, and the Law of Attraction. Its life changing wisdom.
It’s all relatively new to me, but it’s so interesting. I’ve enjoyed reading up on it. The power of the mind is astonishing to me. I’ve took it for granted for years. No longer!
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