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73 pages 2 hours read

Brianna Wiest

The Pivot Year: 365 Days to Become the Person You Want to Be

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2023

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Days 1-72Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Day 1 Summary

Embrace the present moment with courage to shape your future.

Day 2 Summary

The power of not knowing lies in the infinite potential it offers.

Day 3 Summary

Happiness is found in love and contentment, not in external achievements.

Day 4 Summary

Self-protection involves creating a space between what you feel and how you react.

Day 5 Summary

There are two guiding voices: the loud voice of the world and the quiet voice of your inner guide.

Day 6 Summary

Desire reflects the potential already within you and requires acceptance and action.

Day 7 Summary

Find a dream that truly inspires you, even if it requires taking risks and facing fears.

Day 8 Summary

Happiness is always present, even in unexpected ways, through embracing the current season of life.

Day 9 Summary

Life will unfold as it should, and your joy will come from accepting the present and allowing things to flow naturally.

Day 10 Summary

The journey is about letting go of what weighs you down and moving forward with what serves you best.

Day 11 Summary

You don't have to be grateful for everything; focus on being grateful for the lessons and growth from the challenges.

Day 12 Summary

Recognize that your relationships and experiences weave together the fabric of your life and contribute to your growth.

Day 13 Summary

Life will direct you towards your purpose by guiding you through challenges and offering lessons along the way.

Day 14 Summary

Surround yourself with people who expand your potential and support your growth.

Day 15 Summary

Commit to ending your own suffering by being kind to yourself and refusing to engage in negative behaviors.

Day 16 Summary

Embrace the quiet times in your life as moments of profound and human work.

Day 17 Summary

Trust in missed connections and small signs that guide you to where you need to be.

Day 18 Summary

Every hour is a new beginning, reminding us to recognize the significance of each moment.

Day 19 Summary

What is meant for you will come, and the journey is part of the process of becoming who you are.

Day 20 Summary

Understand that others' perceptions are their own, and focus on seeing yourself as you intend to be.

Day 21 Summary

Nurture and engage your greatest strengths to grow into your fullest form.

Day 22 Summary

Recognize your resilience and strength through every challenge you have faced.

Day 23 Summary

True kindness reflects inner strength and the choice to act with compassion.

Day 24 Summary

You are the steady and safe place within yourself amidst life's highs and lows.

Day 25 Summary

Live in a way that makes you glad to be alive; focus on authenticity and joy.

Day 26 Summary

Finding yourself involves letting go of past versions of yourself and embracing new, authentic ones.

Day 27 Summary

Embrace the power within and let go of past disappointments to move forward.

Day 28 Summary

Comfort and familiarity can hinder growth; embrace the unknown for true transformation.

Day 29 Summary

The things you want to create in the world also want to be created through you.

Day 30 Summary

Embrace your potential by moving forward with what truly aligns with your inner self.

Day 31 Summary

Your potential is limitless and becomes more clear as you move beyond past limitations.

Day 32 Summary

Learn to let go and move forward by focusing on the present and what you already have.

Day 33 Summary

Embrace what you already have and move forward without waiting for a perfect future.

Day 34 Summary

Trust that what you need will come to you at the right time.

Day 35 Summary

Letting go of outdated perceptions will help you move forward.

Day 36 Summary

Embrace honesty and face your inner world to truly live in the present.

Day 37 Summary

Sometimes, the most authentic experiences might feel underwhelming but are essential.

Day 38 Summary

Trust that your purpose and productivity are cultivated from within, not by external standards.

Day 39 Summary

Create a new path by defying expectations and nurturing your own growth.

Day 40 Summary

Instead of chasing perfection, embrace your qualities and the unique impact you can make.

Day 41 Summary

There are things in life worth fighting for, like true love and deep connection.

Day 42 Summary

To fully appreciate and love yourself, you must confront and integrate all parts of your being.

Day 43 Summary

You find true meaning and worth by choosing authenticity over acceptance.

Day 44 Summary

True happiness comes from engaging deeply with life.

Day 45 Summary

Letting go is difficult but necessary to free yourself from what no longer serves you.

Day 46 Summary

Reflect on whether your choices align with your true self and desired state of being.

Day 47 Summary

Appreciate the many blessings already present in your life.

Day 48 Summary

Your impact on the world can be measured by the beauty and kindness you leave behind.

Day 49 Summary

Learn to rely on trusted ones and focus on the positive aspects of life.

Day 50 Summary

The space between having and desiring teaches us the importance of appreciation and resilience.

Day 51 Summary

Perseverance is key to achieving dreams; you don't have to be perfect, just persistent.

Day 52 Summary

Losses can bring freedom and opportunities; not everything lost is a true loss.

Day 53 Summary

It is normal to feel lost sometimes; nothing is wrong with you for having moments of uncertainty.

Day 54 Summary

True fulfillment comes from completing what you start and fully investing in your life's work.

Day 55 Summary

Look within to understand and trust the insights you gain from your own subconscious mind.

Day 56 Summary

Trust the truth you already know within yourself instead of seeking answers from others.

Day 57 Summary

Genuine connection requires recognizing and addressing our own projections and expectations.

Day 58 Summary

Ask yourself what deep feeling or guidance you need and choose to align with your true self.

Day 59 Summary

Growth comes from overcoming challenges, not from avoiding them.

Day 60 Summary

Maintain genuine connections by reminding yourself to see others as human beings with their own struggles and needs.

Day 61 Summary

Prove to yourself that you can change by taking consistent, small actions that align with your desired self.

Day 62 Summary

Losing parts of yourself is a natural part of growth and transformation.

Day 63 Summary

Not everyone will understand your journey, and that's okay.

Day 64 Summary

This phase might be about preparation and finding courage to take the first step.

Day 65 Summary

Understanding who you are becoming makes it easier to learn from the past.

Day 66 Summary

Letting go of what is not meant for you clears the path for what is truly yours.

Day 67 Summary

It’s okay to protect parts of yourself and to be selective about whom you share your true self with.

Day 68 Summary

Bravery comes from allowing your love for something to grow within you.

Day 69 Summary

You are the person who continues to grow and heal, regardless of past hardships.

Day 70 Summary

Moving forward is about making choices and finding your courage.

Day 71 Summary

Trust the process, even when things seem chaotic, as it leads to something greater.

Day 72 Summary

If you feel stuck, it means you are exactly where you need to be for now.

Days 1-72 Analysis

In The Pivot Year, Wiest’s first piece of advice introduces a central theme: The Role of Mindfulness in Achieving One’s Goals.  On day one she writes, "Embrace the present moment with courage to shape your future," emphasizing the importance of presence, which allows an individual to fully experiencing each moment (1). By focusing on the present, Wiest believes readers can better shape their future with intention and courage. Wiest consistently echoes this theme throughout the book, particularly in passages that stress the importance of embracing the present and the future (Days 1, 8, 9, 30, 32, 34). Wiest suggests that happiness can be found in the present moment, even amidst challenges, and that life unfolds as it should when we accept and flow with it. For instance, on Day 18, Wiest teaches that mindfulness allows us to value each moment as a fresh start, encouraging continuous personal growth and resilience. This concept is also reflected on Day 9, in which Wiest highlights the joy and peace that come from staying present rather than constantly striving for control or change in one’s circumstances.

Through a practice of mindfulness, The Pivot Year stresses gratitude and appreciation as paramount to living a fulfilling life. Wiest encourages readers to focus on the lessons and growth life’s challenges offer (Days 11, 47, 50). She presents an alternative to “wanting” and “waiting” for some future event by outlining the ways appreciating the blessings already present allow the manifestation of resilience in the space between having and desiring. This practice of gratitude fosters a deeper awareness and appreciation of the present moment. In her early meditations, Wiest acknowledges the importance of challenges—which she frames as catalysts for growth—in developing resilience. She emphasizes the importance of facing difficulties, letting go of what no longer serves the good in order to recognize inner strength (Days 13, 45, 59, 69).

Wiest stresses the importance of shedding outdated identities and beliefs to discover and embrace one's true self, highlighting the importance of Overcoming Barriers to Authenticity. On Day 26, she states, "Finding yourself involves letting go of past versions of yourself and embracing new, authentic ones"(26). She develops this idea further on Day 44, where she notes that "true happiness comes from engaging deeply with life and its authentic experiences," suggesting that happiness is found in genuine, deep engagement with life (44). In this way, Wiest uses the 365-day structure of her book to build cumulative layers of insight, diving deeper into her themes.  Wiest’s mediations argue that true meaning and worth is found by choosing authenticity over acceptance, underscoring the value of being true to oneself, even if it means not being accepted by others.

Wiest draws attention the importance of consistent, small actions in transforming oneself and achieving personal goals to emphasize The Power of Daily Practice in Personal Transformation, another significant theme of her work. On Day 61, she advises that by taking small, consistent actions aligned with desired outcomes, an individual can move closer to their goals, thus highlighting the significance of daily effort in personal growth. Similarly, on Day 51, she spotlights perseverance over perfection, arguing that perseverance is key to achieving dreams, framing it as much more important that perfection.

Wiest explores the journey of embracing the unknown, encouraging readers to acknowledge their desires as reflections of their potential. She emphasizes that accepting and acting on these desires is essential for growth (Days 2, 6, 19, 27). She further underscores the importance of embracing change and taking risks (Days 7, 28, 64, 70), suggesting that comfort and familiarity can stifle progress. Wiest argues that true growth requires courage and a willingness to confront fears, emphasizing the importance of an inward journey to achieve happiness and fulfillment. Wiest consistently returns to the idea that this journey necessitates self-protection, kindness, and authenticity (Days 3, 4, 14, 15, 16, 22, 24, 25, 26, 42), reinforcing its importance to her goals—both for herself and her readers. Wiest portrays self-trust and inner guidance as vital aspects of this journey, advising readers to rely on their inner voice rather than seeking answers externally (Days 5, 55, 56). On Day 56, she specifically encourages trusting one's inner wisdom, asserting that "trusting the truth you already know within yourself" is crucial for personal transformation (56).

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