I’m not sure how a person goes about getting a new word accepted into our common language, but I’ve coined one recently that sums up everything I believe about the power of gratitude. I’d love to see it get some traction because every time I use it Siri autocorrects me, my email composer redlines it, and Word insists I don’t know how to spell! Oh, well, I think “gravot” is a perfectly good word. I’ll tell you about it in Marian Webster style and we’ll see if it gets picked up.

Gravot: grav-ot 1) the action of pivoting towards gratitude so you can see a situation differently.

The idea for the word came out of my love for the game of basketball. I’ve played it. I’ve coached it. And I still enjoy watching it, especially when my b-ball crazy grandson, Grant, is playing! The general public understands that to pivot simply means to turn in a different direction. But allow me to tell you what pivot means to a basketball player and why the skill is crucial to his or her game.

In the game of basketball, a stationary player in possession of the ball must keep a “pivot foot” in contact with the floor at all times. The player can turn in any direction as long as the pivot foot isn’t lifted. Otherwise the player will be charged with “walking” or “traveling”. This violation of the rules is a call made by the referee and results in the ball being given to the opposing team.  While pivoting is a fundamental skill taught to beginners, mature players know it remains crucial to their success at every level of competition.

Why? Because a pivot allows a player to look beyond the situation to find the solution. Pivoting allows a player to escape the pressure of a defensive player by increasing their vision of the court. A pivot is full of potential! It can expose the player holding the ball to an open teammate. It can create a shot at the goal, and it can reveal a path to the basket. All said, rising pressure can be relieved by a good pivot and it can even move the ballplayer from a defensive position to an offensive one.

Let’s connect the dots.

Pivoting towards gratitude is a learned skill that yields healthy corresponding rewards in the daily lives of those who learn to gravot and make it a consistent part of their “game.” Turning our eyes to Jesus and giving thanks when we’re under pressure, helps us handle what’s coming our way. I Thessalonians 5:18 reads, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Notice that we’re not told to give thanks for everything, but in everything. There’s a world of difference between the two!

When we pivot towards gratitude our situation may not always change, but our mindset most definitely will. Pivoting towards gratitude can help us move from victim to victor, and that alone can help us see the way forward.

As powerful as it is to learn to pivot towards gratitude, make no mistake. To gravot is a choice. No one can make it for us! On the other hand, the more we pivot towards gratitude the more natural it becomes. That basketball loving grandson I mentioned earlier? He has been challenged to gravot a lot recently, due to a fractured bone in his foot and a big old ankle boot that has kept him off the court. I’m grateful Grant’s parents have helped him practice gravoting, but our grands don’t have to love basketball to learn this valuable skill. They just need adults to model it for them so they can apply it to their own individual challenges. Game on, Rockstars.