Making a big life change is always a growth opportunity.
Whether that change is career, relocation, relationship, or something else, your growth is directly related to being willing to spend time in the liminal spaces, aka the time existing between now and an unclear future.
When I hung up my pointe shoes, I came face t face with "What now?" I didn't know...
When Move Into Change became more than an idea, I could practically taste the outcome I wanted but, ugh, the slow build, the times when it seemed like no clients were coming...
Or, recently when waiting to hear a response to a big proposal (as in, professional development engagement) ~ still waiting.
I see clients grappling with the unknown and uncertainty at different steps and phases in their career transition. Even if your change isn't about your career, you probably know the feeling of wanting to get to the answer or make the change happen already!
I can get impatient, we all do. And, impatience can lead to incorrect assumptions like:
This must mean that what I'm doing (or want) isn't right for me.
I should have figured this out by now.
I'm not ready.
I'll never figure this out.
I'm not smart enough (_______ enough) to figure this out.
Fill in one of yours here______________.
Our incorrect assumptions lead to decisions, decisions that may short-cut or hamstring the process completely.
Avoid that trap!
It's a lose/lose proposition. You will have missed out on an opportunity to learn or discover something new that will help you come to a stronger, more fitting, and sustainable,
answer for you.
Time well spent isn't always comfortable.
~ David Wilson
Some tips:
Embrace your liminal period for its potential - a mindset shift.
Use this time to do the inner stuff - learn and practice resilience strategies to improve self-talk and to work with your fear.
Notice your assumptions (I use my coach to help me notice them).
Challenge them – ask for evidence, ask 'What if that wasn't true?'
Awaken or revive your creativity - practice navigating the unknown in small doses and with structured activities that are deep fun.
No two people travel their path in the same way. The moments and thresholds where you need to get comfortable with the unknown will be different from someone else's.
Can you make friends with uncertainty? Can you take steps to grow in the dark?
Curious about coaching?
Have an issue you want to explore?
Experience coaching with me by signing up for a free session
in honor of
International Coaching Week.
We can talk career, life, or both.
Judy Garfinkel helps you clarify "what's next." Her expertise in building confidence and resilience supports personal development and the ability to navigate career and work transitions – especially now! She is a certified Trauma Informed Coach. Judy also crafts bespoke resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and bios that open doors for her clients and land jobs. Judy is a Past President of the International Coaching Federation - Connecticut Chapter, where she led 250+ member coaches. You can reach her at judy@moveintochange.com.