What does it take to increase our capacity to pivot and shift direction, mindset and mood? Christina Grote explores the role that perception plays in our ability to pivot. Being aware of our options can make a huge difference in our transformation.

When severe challenges hit a family, a desperate search began for answers. A father describes how courage and love inspired the family’s process of continual pivoting. He sees it as “taking the hit as a gift.”

Unlike a maze, there are no dead-ends in a labyrinth. There are, however, twists and turns that cause us to pivot. In that way a labyrinth is a metaphor for life.

After enjoying eight years as a successful head coach for university golf teams, Matthew Steinbach felt the comfort of familiarity was constraining his growth as a coach and as an individual. He examined the role of homeostasis in his life and decided to pivot.

We usually look at our world with an agenda. We look at something. We look for something. What if we didn’t perceive the world through “hard eyes”? ITP Mastery Teacher Charlotte Hatch and ITP practitioners demonstrate experiencing the world through “soft eyes.”

Dr. Matthew Cobb started his professional ministry in The Episcopal Church (TEC) where he has served as campus minister, community organizer, healthcare chaplain, development officer, parish priest, indigenous missioner, leadership developer and spiritual director. ITP and the Ki of Cooperation play an important role in his personal and professional lives.

To achieve cooperation with another, it can help to look at the situation from the other person’s point of view. Leonard Energy Training offers an exercise to help us achieve this. ITP Mastery Teacher Charlotte Hatch teaches the exercise “Getting Off the Line,” reminding us to listen to the other person while taking care of ourselves.

Gaining insights during a facilitated exercise is great, but do they really make a difference in everyday life? In my experience, absolutely! The key is sticking with the practice and actively working on those insights. At first, it might feel like progress is slow, but then one day, you suddenly realize how far you've come. Here’s a personal example that illustrates this journey.

A community of practice is more than just a gathering of like-minded individuals. It’s a dynamic, living entity where people come together with a shared commitment to learning, growing and supporting one another. In this space, we build deep connections, share invaluable resources and develop a rich, shared practice through sustained interaction and mutual respect.

With cooperation in the world, the Ki of Cooperation infinitely expands its reach into the world around us. The “world” can be as big or as small as you like. Take for example this famous quote by William Blake: “To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.” The world is readily available and limited only by our perception of it.