Slow Sunday: Postured To Pivot

On gathering, navigating uncertainty and pushing through

Let’s be real, life these days feels like a full-on fight. If it’s not external, battling the constant noise vying for our attention, it’s internal, wrestling with the overwhelming chatter of worry and doubt. But, I believe, when we adjust our stance and recognize our true enemy, fear, we can reach for the tools that empower us to be victors, not victims.

This past Thursday in Los Angeles, under the heaviest downpour of the year, I hosted our Women in Charge Relief Dinner. Of course, a dinner themed Postured to Pivot, arrived with a storm. The timing was a bit too spot on for me, testing our collective resilience and demanding our adaptability in real time.

Nearby streets became rivers, mudslides were triggered in Malibu, and one guest cancelled because Pasadena was evacuating again. The internal dialogue was louder than ever:

What if everyone cancels?

Maybe this is a sign I shouldn’t have planned this.

Should I postpone?

My mind was racing, but I pushed through. The real kicker? It was day seven of brutal jet lag, right as multiple projects (creative, operational, and otherwise) hit their deadlines. I hadn’t moved my body in a week, and no matter what, I was wide awake by 3 AM, stretching each day longer than a 40-inch bussdown.

Despite it all, the confirmation emails had gone out in the days leading up to the dinner, ensuring no last-minute cancellations. Thus far, none. Even after my morning “See you tonight” email, complete with a getting-ready playlist, there were no drop offs.

That was Thursday morning at 9AM. By 4:30 PM the clouds were so thick and the rain so heavy, I couldn’t see past the next block.

I texted the chef to confirm she was still on, she was.

At 5:33P, God cracked the sky. The rain went from a 10 to a 6 and suddenly the mission felt possible again.

Powered by a fellow Black woman entrepreneur,

Alex Hill

, and the generous subscribers of her Food and Feelings Substack, I was unwavering in my commitment to bringing this dinner to life with clarity, purpose, and impact. The goal was simple: break bread and build plans. I wanted everyone to leave not only nourished, but armed with fresh ideas and a renewed sense of possibility.

The gathering was born out of a desire to unite an often-overlooked group affected by disasters like the LA wildfires: small business owners and entrepreneurs, particularly Black women like me, who were facing setbacks, cancellations, and unexpected losses.

With this year debuting season five of Unprecedented Times in America, our dinner’s theme, Postured to Pivot, was timely. Inspired by a powerful sermon I heard from Touré Roberts late last year, I had three initial goals:

1. Reframe uncertainty as possibility, after all, as Pastor Touré puts it, “adaptability is the new stability.”

2. Reinforce the importance of having faith. It’s not about waiting for absolute clarity, it’s about moving anyway. What’s the next best step you can take right now?

3. Reimagine who we can be and what we can build in this moment, and beyond, equipped with new tools. The goal isn’t to abandon our mission but to expand it, embracing fresh strategies while staying anchored in our core values. As I shared earlier this week in Stabilize the Core, Stimulate Progress, everything we do should be a continuum of what we stand for.

Over a meal prepared by a Black woman chef (noticing a pattern?), Miriha Austin, I passed around sheets from my Martine Syms notepad (picked up at her recent exhibit in Paris), handed out pens, and we got to work. Opening with one of my favorite devotionals from Until Today by Iyanla Vanzant, rooted in powerful change, I used the outline I designed to guide our discussion.

A welcomed turn in the evening came through our special guest, Amiah Sheppard, a longtime member of the With/Creators community. The former venture capitalist and limited partner, now devotes her work to helping startup entrepreneurs sharpen their value proposition, refine their investment narrative, and uncover financial pathways beyond the traditional VC model. I hoped her presence would spark a broader conversation, one that reimagined how our businesses could not just survive, but thrive, in this moment of uncertainty.

Through guided reflections, breakout sessions, and group discussions, the dinner reinforced a simple truth: if you start with what you have, build with who you know (wider community included), and gather with intention, momentum can be sparked, even in the dark.

Navigating uncertainty is challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Today’s Slow Sunday sonic companion goes deeper into this idea, and it comes from one of my favorite podcasts, Life Examined. If you follow my playlist of the same name, you’ve likely come across a few episodes from this KCRW series, hosted by therapist Jonathan Bastian. Life Examined delves into the nuances of the human experience, exploring themes like wintering and enchantment, ikigai, and the art and science of change.

This particular episode is among my favorites in the Life Examined canon: a conversation with Russ Roberts, author of Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us. Together, Roberts and Bastian navigate some of life’s biggest questions: Who do I aspire to be? Who am I becoming? What do I want to want? Their discussion encourages a shift in perspective, seeing life less as a problem to be solved and more as a work of art, embracing uncertainty not as a stressor but as a portal to possibility.

Since first listening when it aired in September 2023, I’ve held onto the same aspiration: to pursue the life of a flâneur. To wander, observe, and remain open to the unknown.

After all, aren’t we all meant to be explorers?

As always, I pray this blesses who it’s for; may you never forget you’re equipped for the fight.

With love and intention,

Jennifer Pauline

PS.

For paid subscribers inspired to host their own Postured to Pivot gathering, message me directly, and I’ll share the outline.