The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest: A Therapist’s Take on Finding Your Turning Point

What if one year could change the way we see ourselves, the way we show up in our relationships, and the way we move through the world?

In The Pivot Year, Brianna Wiest invites us to explore that possibility through 365 daily reflections. Each page is short but impactful, offering gentle prompts that challenge us to pause, reflect, and move just one step closer to the life we want to live. There’s no pressure to overhaul everything. Just an invitation to pivot—one small shift at a time.

As therapists and wellness professionals, we often sit with people in the in-between. The moments when something isn’t working anymore, but the next step isn’t clear yet. This book feels like a conversation with that exact part of the journey.

One of the most powerful lines comes early in the book:

"You will not always be the most tired version of yourself. Life will not always feel this hard."

It’s the kind of sentence that lands in your chest and stays there. For those of us holding exhaustion, burnout, or quiet grief, these words remind us that change is possible, even when we can’t yet see it.

Wiest touches on themes we often work with in therapy—grief, boundaries, self-trust, loneliness, personal responsibility, and inner healing. Each entry is a mirror, gently asking: Is this belief helping you move forward? Or is it keeping you stuck?

Another standout quote:

"Your new life is going to cost you your old one."

This reflection often stirs something deep. It speaks to the discomfort of growth—the letting go that has to happen before we can rebuild. It's honest, raw, and incredibly validating for anyone sitting in the middle of a personal shift.

Why this book resonates in the therapy and wellness world:

• It gives space for emotional complexity without rushing to fix anything.

• It honours how slow, internal change leads to meaningful external transformation.

• It reminds us that healing often happens in the small, ordinary moments—not just in the breakthroughs.

• It empowers us to take ownership of our choices without shame.

  
  

A gentle heads-up for sensitive readers

Some reflections go deep quickly. If we’re in a season of overwhelm or tender healing, it may help to take breaks, skip entries, or come back later. The beauty of this book is that it meets us wherever we are—there’s no pressure to do it perfectly or all at once.

Final thoughts

The Pivot Year isn’t about chasing a better version of ourselves. It’s about reconnecting with who we’ve always been underneath the noise. If we’re feeling stuck, lost, or quietly ready to begin again, this book offers a soft but steady companion for the journey ahead.

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