Every so often, life gives us a wake-up call — a relationship ends, a career loses its spark, or a quiet restlessness stirs inside us. We sense it’s time for a change, but we’re not sure where to start. In his powerful book, The Four Pivots, Shawn Ginwright reminds us that transformation begins not by fixing what’s broken around us, but by reimagining what’s possible within us. Reinvention, he suggests, starts with four inner shifts — pivots that move us from survival to wholeness, from striving to flow.

“When we stop looking at what’s wrong out there and start reflecting on what’s happening in here, transformation begins.” – Shawn Ginwright

It’s easy to analyze, critique, or blame external circumstances when life feels stuck. The first pivot — from Lens to Mirror — invites us to shift our attention inward. Instead of asking, “Why isn’t this working?” we ask, “What might this be teaching me?” Self-reflection isn’t about guilt or blame; it’s about curiosity and growth. It’s about noticing the patterns, stories, and assumptions that keep us repeating the same outcomes. When we look in the mirror, we don’t find fault — we find truth.

Ask yourself:

• What story am I telling myself that might no longer be true?
• What is life trying to show me right now?

“The work of transformation begins when we stop doing and start becoming.”
So much of modern life is transactional — we check boxes, complete tasks, and move on to the next thing. But if we’re not careful, productivity becomes a substitute for purpose.
This pivot calls us to deepen our engagement with life. It’s not about doing more; it’s about being more — more present, more authentic, more aligned. Transformation happens when we focus less on outcomes and more on presence.

Questions to reflect on:

• Where in my life am I just going through the motions?
• What would it look like to replace “efficiency” with “intention”?

“Imagination is not an escape from reality — it’s how we shape a new one.”
Many of us live as if life were a series of problems to fix. But that mindset keeps us stuck in scarcity. The third pivot is about shifting our focus from what’s wrong to what’s possible.
When we lead with imagination instead of anxiety, new ideas and opportunities begin to emerge. Possibility-creating doesn’t ignore pain — it reclaims agency. It says, “This isn’t the end of the story.”

Ask yourself:

• What if your biggest challenge was actually your greatest teacher?
• What new possibility is waiting to be explored?

“You can’t hustle your way to wholeness.”
We live in a culture that glorifies the grind. But constant motion doesn’t equal progress — and exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor. The fourth pivot invites us to slow down and live in flow — the state where your work, values, and purpose move in harmony. Flow happens when you stop forcing outcomes and start aligning with what feels meaningful. It’s the difference between striving for control and surrendering to grace.

Ask yourself:

• Where do I feel most alive and at ease?
• What might happen if I valued rest as much as productivity?

“The most radical thing we can do is to choose joy, to imagine a new future, and to live fully in the present.” – Shawn Ginwright

Reinvention isn’t about becoming someone new — it’s about remembering who you already are. The Four Pivots invite us to release what no longer serves us and realign our lives with what truly matters. So take a moment today to pause, breathe, and ask: Which pivot is life inviting me to make right now? Then take one small, courageous step in that direction. The path to wholeness begins with a single pivot.