One of the worse feelings you’ll have is the let down after a victory.
You know what I mean. You celebrate the purchase of your new home, and two weeks later the furnace goes out. You finally finish school and achieve that coveted piece of paper, only to still be unemployed six months later. You meet the man of your dreams and find out he has a wife. You get a brand new job making more money than you’ve ever made, but find out your boss is a tyrant and hate every moment of it.
I’ve been on the longest roller coaster ride of my life. My secret? Remembering that even when it’s headed toward the ground at 100 mph; when holding my breath turns into not being able to breathe; when my stomach drops and the contents are threatening to come up; when my skin pulls back from my face and fear grips me in ways I can hardly describe, the roller coaster always rolls back up, and eventually slows to a stop. I remember that God made me some promises, and while I can trust very few people, I can always stand on His promises. I remember that it wasn’t too long ago that I was on another downward spiral but got back up again.
I remember that I have the ability to pivot. To head in the direction of a brick wall but turn before I crash into it. I may not be able to control everything that happens to me, but I can control my response. I can control my attitude. I can control my behavior. I can even control how long I stay on the ride. Didn’t you know that? The longer you sit in denial, the longer you have your pity party, the longer you blame other people and other circumstances, that’s the longer you sit strapped to a machine that could end your life.
So today’s word is p-i-v-o-t. Lost your job? Pivot. Lender turned you down for the house? Pivot. Kids don’t appreciate all that you do? Pivot. Didn’t get the promotion? Pivot? Marriage or relationship didn’t work? Pivot. Disappointed in where you are in life? PIVOT!
Stop focusing on the roller coaster and focus on the thrill. Every experience, good and bad, comes to fortify you. To prepare you. To put you in a position to help someone else. Because, if you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s never been about you anyway.
