Liminal Spaces
Like a waiting room with no windows. No ability to orient myself to where I’m actually at or where I might be going.
That’s how the last…well, 2 years have felt for me.
January 2024 I started the intimidating journey of following my intuition - first by stepping away from a 5 year relationship after an entire year or more of internal debate.
While navigating this incredibly difficult decision and feelings of loss, I figured “things” would start to align for me quickly after that point. That was apparently a naïve assumption. Things would in fact not get better first.
It was a morning at the end of September, the power had gone out after a storm. Later that day I would find out the neighborhood next to mine (along with others in Western North Carolina) had completely flooded. Eclipse season. A month later on my Mom’s birthday I stepped away from my job, I was determined to break free from the chains of this product development career I somehow stumbled into.
I found myself in a cloud of smoke (weed) and mirror of illusions (crushes), not sure who I was anymore or if blowing up my life was in fact the right decision. Seemed like things would be better by now. At least I had stopped drinking in the midst of this chaos.
An entire year passes and somehow life appeared way worse than when I had started. Maybe it was all my fault, maybe I peaked a long time ago.
My refusal to accept that answer led me to question this liminal space -the transition from and old chapter to a new chapter.
Why did no one warn me about this? Maybe because the vast majority of people never utilize their courage to answer the call. Most people prefer to stay in the known, comfort zones seems easier to manage than going rogue and hoping for the best with no promise or guarantee.
For people like you and I - staying in the known eventually feels way more terrifying (for a multitude of reasons). One being, never realizing your true potential.
So what is the Liminal Space?
What is the purpose of the void between chapters?
How can we navigate this period of uncertainty?
When will the fog lift and the new chapter begin?
Signs you’re exiting the Liminal Space, and entering a New Chapter
Let’s talk about it.
What is the Liminal space?
The Liminal Space is the period we experience when we are in-between life chapters. We are exiting old ways of being, and experimenting with new ways of being but we aren’t quite in one or the other yet.
Think of it like the time between two seasons of your favorite TV show - the old season is over, you know what characters will return and those that won’t, story lines are being wrapped up while some plots are just beginning. There are knowns and unknowns. There may be excitement, sadness, and anticipation.
The writers, actors, and crew are behind the scenes preparing for another season to start…but there is a lot of planning and preparation needed before the new season can air.
Think of the Liminal Space as a learning zone. If your comfort zone is level 1, and your expansion zone is level 2 - the learning zone is the treacherous mountain you have to scale to get to that next level.
What is the purpose of the void between chapters?
This period is an initiation.
Are you willing to show up even when you don’t have external validation? This tests your underlying intentions and motives. If it comes from your ego’s need for validation you will quit, if it comes from your pure soul’s desire you will keep moving forward.
Are you prepared to be the type of person that can hold and be responsible for your desires? Preparation to actually hold what you desire, building your self identity and self worth
Are you able to surrender? Having trust in yourself and faith in something bigger than you
Are you determined to practice, learn, and grow past your current edges?
Are you willing to consistently release old stories and habits regardless of what tests you?
How can we navigate this period of uncertainty?
Build your self trust, self worth, upgrade your beliefs & mindset, rest & play, review your habits & actions, audit what drains your energy vs fills your cup.
When will the fog lift and the new chapter begin?
Speaking from my own experience - I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel once I fully accepted where I was at. That I was between chapters and there wasn’t anything I could truly do to force alignment beyond what was within my control. When I stopped waiting for “someday” to come, waiting for an external event/person/circumstance to say that I had arrived or that it was safe to enjoy life.
Signs you’re exiting the Liminal Space, and entering a New Chapter
More often than not, you trust things are working out in your favor (even rejection or plans falling through)
Aligned opportunities are showing up for you in serendipitous ways
You have more clarity and self assurance around your direction, path, and where you are heading
Old ways of relating and previous habits seem more foreign to you now
You’re focused less on “healing” and more on living, creating, enjoying, service to others
You experience less reactivity with your emotions and trust yourself to process your emotions as they come up
Regardless of what’s going on externally, you generally feel pretty great about yourself and trust you will handle whatever comes your way
