P32: Sip. Stir. Serve: A Gentle Ritual to Refocus Your Next Chapter

Welcome to Issue #32 of Just One Pivot, a focused moment of clarity to spark progress where it matters most. You can subscribe here if someone sent it to you.

Welcome, Dear Friend,

Today is the first day of the year’s third quarter.

Did you do anything special to celebrate the end of your second quarter?

I celebrated with a grandiose dose of storytelling, watching Mission: Impossible – The Last Reckoning on the big screen. And while I didn’t expect my quarterly clarity review to be inspired by Tom Cruise… here we are.

Between the wild stunts and chaos of impending doom, one scene stayed with me.

It wasn’t explosive or dramatic. It was that brief moment when Ethan Hunt pauses and reflects, not just on the mission, but on who he's becoming, what really matters, and how much he's willing to lose for what he believes.

The truth is, most of us are moving fast, maybe not spy-movie fast, but fast enough to forget we’re the protagonists in our own unfolding stories. And even heroes need a gentle checkpoint.

Last week, I introduced powerful words by Archimedes: “Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the world.”

I’m bringing them back because in today’s practice, your lever is stillness.

Because pivotal clarity, the kind that shifts your world, doesn’t arise from force, but from stillness.

Why a Quarterly Review, Done Gently, Matters

Earlier this year, I offered a gentle alternative to the traditional (and often overwhelming) annual review. Instead of spreadsheets and scorecards, it invited you to step back and look at the bigger picture of your year as a writer would:

• What story are you living?

• Is the protagonist (you) becoming whole?

• Does the plot feel aligned with your deeper purpose?

This quarterly clarity check-in is a continuation of that lens. But here’s the twist: it’s gentler.

This isn’t a productivity hack or a goal audit.

It’s a cup-of-tea moment. A “zoom out and breathe” session to pause and ask:

• Where have I been?

• Where am I now?

• Where might I want to turn next?

A Tiny, Three-Part Pivot

Think of it as a tea ritual:

Sip. Stir. Serve.

🍵 SIP: Savor the good.

• What are three moments from the past quarter you’re grateful for?

• What made you smile, even on the hard days?

• When did you feel most you?

My example: I loved having long and meaningful talks with my daughter. I was a good steward of my writing and gifts. I helped others gain clarity, momentum, and growth.

🍵 STIR: Gently examine.

• What tension surfaced this past quarter, and what is it teaching you?

• Where did you hesitate, struggle, or feel stuck?

• What patterns are beginning to emerge?

My example: I can get lost in writing for hours, a practice that often competes with needed wellness practices (like movement and nutrition). It’s a costly pattern I need to address.

🍵 SERVE: Move with meaning.

• What one area of your life feels ready for more attention?

• What’s one gentle pivot that could shift the next chapter of your story?

• What plot twist would you be proud of 90 days from now?

My example: My physical health is my top priority for this third quarter. Starting my mornings with a walk, swim, or gym workout will come before I type a single word.

A Quarterly Clarity Ritual

1. Put on a soundtrack that feels cinematic. (Try this one or this one or this one)

2. Light a candle. Pour your favorite tea. Open your journal.

3. Ask yourself: Is my life story one I still love? Or, does it need a tiny plot twist?

Then, write a single sentence that names your next chapter. Just one.

My example: This next chapter is called Strong at the Start, where my daily spiritual and physical practices lead the way, my words follow, and I show up rested and rooted.

How about you?

And if you lead a team, you may find this version and one pager helpful to help your team feel more focused, creative, and supported.

With warmth,

P.S. Updates:

• 🗓️ Summer and fall calendar: I’m celebrating the 10th Anniversary of my book, Bridge Builders by bringing its timely message to as many teams as I can. Send me a note if you have a group I can help inspire.
  

• Storytelling is a super power! If you’re ready to take your storytelling acumen to the next level to increase your effectiveness as a leader, educator, and change maker, add your name to the list to be among the first to hear.

Note: Book references include affiliate links, which support this publication at no additional cost to you.