𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬

Liminal space. It’s a term that might not be familiar, but the feeling is universal. The word "liminal" comes from the Latin word limen, meaning "threshold." Liminal spaces are those transitional zones where you're no longer in the past, but not yet fully settled into the future. They represent the in-between phases of life—those moments when the old has ended, but the new hasn’t fully begun.

We usually rush through these spaces, eager to get to the next chapter. But what if we slowed down? What if we leaned into the discomfort, recognizing it as the fertile ground where change takes root? Liminal spaces are the bridges between where we are and where we want to be. They are not voids to escape but thresholds to embrace.

Think about the moments in life that changed you—graduating from school, starting a new job, ending a relationship, moving to a new city. In each of these experiences, there was a pause, a space where you were navigating uncertainty. It’s in these spaces that you questioned, reflected, and ultimately grew. The discomfort wasn’t a sign of failure; it was evidence that transformation was underway.

Liminal spaces are where being meets wanting. It’s where you sit with who you are while yearning for who you could become. This tension is both unsettling and essential. It forces us to confront what we truly desire, beyond external expectations or superficial goals. It’s the fertile soil where clarity grows, watered by introspection and nurtured by patience.

In leadership, I see this play out all the time. Executives navigating career transitions, teams undergoing organizational change, individuals facing personal growth challenges—all are standing in their liminal spaces. The instinct is often to find quick solutions, to avoid the discomfort. But growth doesn’t happen in the rush. It happens in the pause, the reflection, the messy middle.

Embracing liminal spaces requires courage. It means sitting with uncertainty without rushing to fix it. It means being vulnerable enough to not have all the answers. But this space also invites curiosity: What am I learning? What am I letting go of? Who am I becoming?

The beauty of liminal spaces is that they are temporary. They may feel endless, but they are bridges, not destinations. The key is to recognize them for what they are: opportunities. Opportunities to redefine yourself, to realign with your values, to envision a new path forward.

When we teach leaders to embrace these spaces, we cultivate resilience. We help them develop the capacity to navigate change with grace, to lead with authenticity, and to inspire others to do the same. Imagine if we taught this skill not just in boardrooms, but in classrooms, homes, and communities. How different would our approach to change be?

Liminal spaces are not empty. They are full of potential. They are where the seeds of transformation are planted, nurtured, and grown. They invite us to step into the unknown with curiosity rather than fear. The discomfort isn’t a sign that something is wrong; it’s an indication that something new is trying to emerge.

So the next time you find yourself in that in-between, don’t rush through it. Pause. Reflect. Grow. Because it’s in the space between who you are and who you want to be that the most profound transformations happen.