Finding Meaning in the In-Between
We all know what it’s like to be between things. Between jobs. Between relationships. Between who we were and who we’re becoming.
That suspended, uncertain, and often uncomfortable space is called the liminal phase — and while it can feel disorienting, it’s also one of the most profoundly transformative stages of life
We all know what it’s like to be between things. Between jobs. Between relationships. Between who we were and who we’re becoming.
That suspended, uncertain, and often uncomfortable space is called the liminal phase — and while it can feel disorienting, it’s also one of the most profoundly transformative stages of life.
What “Liminal” Really Means
The word liminal comes from the Latin limen, meaning “threshold.”
In anthropology and psychology, it describes the middle stage of transition — the space after something has ended but before the next thing has fully begun.
It’s the cocoon between caterpillar and butterfly.
The quiet after a breakup but before rediscovering yourself.
The months (or years) between an ending and a new identity that hasn’t yet formed.
The liminal phase isn’t always graceful. It’s messy, nonlinear, and sometimes painful — because it asks us to sit in the unknown without rushing toward resolution.
Why the Liminal Space Feels So Uncomfortable
We live in a world that celebrates progress, productivity, and clear outcomes. The in-between, by contrast, often feels like failure or stagnation.
You might feel:
Lost or directionless (“Who am I now?”)
Impatient (“I should be further along.”)
Afraid of uncertainty (“What if this doesn’t work out?”)
Detached from your old identity but not yet connected to the new one
These feelings are normal. They signal that transformation is already underway. You’re not stuck — you’re becoming.
The Psychology of the Liminal Phase
In therapy, we often see the liminal phase emerge after major transitions: divorce, relocation, career changes, illness, or grief.
It’s a period of ego reconstruction — where old belief systems dissolve, making space for something new to form.
Psychologist William Bridges described this process in three stages of transition:
Ending, Losing, Letting Go – the identity or structure that defined you is gone.
The Neutral Zone (Liminal Phase) – confusion, uncertainty, and possibility coexist.
The New Beginning – a new sense of purpose or stability emerges.
Most of us want to skip straight to Step 3. But it’s the middle — the liminal — where growth truly happens.
The Purpose of the Liminal Phase
The liminal phase isn’t punishment. It’s preparation.
It invites us to:
Pause: Step back from autopilot and see what’s no longer aligned.
Integrate: Process grief, disappointment, and lessons from what ended.
Reimagine: Begin to imagine what life could look like moving forward.
Rebuild: Strengthen resilience, faith, and trust in yourself.
In this space, you don’t have to have the answers. You only have to stay curious.
How to Move Through the Liminal Phase with Grace
1. Stop Measuring Progress
In the liminal phase, linear progress doesn’t apply. Healing is cyclical — one step forward, two steps sideways, three steps inward.
Give yourself permission to rest, to recalibrate, to not know.
2. Name What You’re Letting Go Of
Every transition involves loss — even if it’s of something you chose to leave. Naming that loss honors it and allows your mind to release it.
3. Create Gentle Structure
Without some grounding, the in-between can feel endless. Simple rituals like morning journaling, walks, or scheduled rest bring a sense of continuity while everything else shifts.
4. Notice What’s Emerging
Even in uncertainty, there are clues. You might start craving different things — deeper relationships, creative expression, peace instead of hustle. Those are breadcrumbs pointing toward your next chapter.
5. Seek Support
Therapy, community, or spiritual guidance can help you stay anchored while you navigate identity shifts. You don’t have to navigate this liminal landscape alone.
A Reframe: You’re Not Lost — You’re Rewriting
What if this in-between time isn’t about waiting, but gestating?
Like the quiet earth between seasons, your inner life is reorganizing beneath the surface. You’re laying the foundation for something truer and more sustainable than before.
When you look back, you’ll realize the liminal phase was not the pause between your life chapters — it was the turning point that made the next one possible.
Closing Thought
If you find yourself in the thick of uncertainty right now — unsure of who you are, where you’re going, or how long it will take — remember this:
The liminal phase is where the old story dissolves and the new one begins to take shape. It’s not a void; it’s a threshold.
Stand in it with patience, curiosity, and compassion.
Transformation is already unfolding — even if you can’t see it yet.
Contact Bee Blissful today if you feel like you’re caught in the liminal phase. Let’s find meaning in the in-between.