More Thoughts on Liminal Space

Bruce Feiler, one of my favorite authors, says about life transitions that “if we view them as openings, we just might open up to them.” I believe embracing this mindset of openness is the key to successfully navigating the threshold of change and making the most of these in-between moments. 

You might wonder why we should willingly accept such a state of flux. Why hang around the doorstep any longer than necessary? It's a valid concern, one I've personally grappled with myself. We all have expectations about how our lives should unfold, and when our linear plans get disrupted, it can be unsettling. We might find that our identity was tied to the room we just left, and now we're drifting in uncertainty, wrestling with fears and limitations we thought we had left behind.

But hear me out:

Liminal spaces are where opportunities flourish if we're open to embracing them. When life is stable and predictable, it's easy to coast along, sticking to familiar routines. However, as we face change, we have to accept the shifts in our lives, assess our present and future, and we can opt to let go of what no longer serves us. As John O'Donohue says, it's an opportunity to "heal the patterns of repetition that were in us, that caught us somewhere." Although the liminal space can be uncomfortable and uncertain, it also offers us a chance to face our fears and limitations, building greater resilience and adaptability.

Ultimately, embracing the middle space - as Feiler suggests - can be an opening to create new connections and explore fresh experiences...something I've been undertaking myself while becoming an empty nester. I've embarked on a learning journey, pursuing a coaching certification through the University of Wisconsin to develop skills and share wisdom in new ways; I've traveled, as my wife and I are committed to living outside the U.S. for several months at a time, understanding that changing your environment can lead to surprising shifts in perspective; and I'm focused on being present, savoring life's smaller moments as they happen. I'm not entirely sure where all this activity will lead me but I'm staying open to the unexpected opportunities and signs along the way. 

So the next time you find yourself dwelling on the threshold, remember it doesn't have to be a place of stagnation or uncertainty but rather it can (and should) be a space and place of opportunity.