Today's message is about liminal spaces. The word “liminal” comes from the Latin word “limen," which means “threshold.” When we are in a “liminal space,” it means that we are on the verge of something new but we are not quite there yet. Liminal spaces can be physical or emotional - that traffic-filled tunnel under the river is a liminal space. The summer between high school and college is a liminal space. The long wait for a pandemic to end and “normal life” to begin again is a (really sucky) liminal space.
Because we are creatures who seek certainty, being in a liminal space can feel… terrible. We want to speed up time, to fast forward to the solid ground that surely awaits us at the end of this monotonous “phase.” We may numb our restlessness with substances or sugar or sex or shopping sprees. We become anxious or depressed from the agony of waiting to cross over to the next piece of solid ground.
Here's the thing: we can't speed up time (yet - looking at you, Elon Musk). We also can't escape reality using whatever our numbing agent of choice is (there isn't enough dark chocolate on this planet to speed up the resolution to the pandemic - I have a “friend” who tried that…) And the irony is that when we finally make it out of a liminal space - and we will get out of this one - most of us find that we stand on solid ground for just a moment before we are thrust into yet another period of uncertainty and in-betweenness.
So what we can we do? How can we survive - and maybe even thrive - when we find ourselves “trapped” in a liminal space? We can slow down. We can breathe. We can find the beauty in the smallest and most mundane details of our lives. The sweet-salty scent of the ocean breeze on our evening walk. The giddy laughter of our toddler as she watches the same damn episode of “Paw Patrol” on repeat. The mouthwatering aroma of the twelfth loaf of banana bread we have made since March 2020. Stay attuned to the little things, for you may one day realize that they were not so little after all.
Does any of this resonate with you right now? How are you faring in the liminal space that we as a society find ourselves in? I'd love to hear how you are taking care of your mind, body, and soul. And as always, if I can be of any help - I'm just an email/text/phone call/DM away.
This speaks to me on so many levels! As a transition coach, I not only work with those "on the verge" of their next greatness, but I am there personally. It feels like being pregnant; living with so many unseen, unexpressed possibilities. Feeling so much hope, yet so much fear for the future. I believe what we put our attention to in this period becomes that which we eventually manifest. We feel that baby growing, feel it getting closer to birth wondering what it will actually be...and we pretty much get the fruits of the seed we planted. While this period is challenging, the more love and support we receive, the better the outcome. Thanks for the reminder that …
Life is a liminal space -- the whole damn thing: from wherever we were before to wherever we go after...so let's bring back the laughter to the liminal. Giggle more. Chuckle more ( not sure what that sounds like, even). Rejoice more. We're "stuck" here on this gorgeous planet for the time being, with each other (looking at you, Elon Musk...). If you need support, check this lady out. She's the real deal! Love, Virginia