Liminal Space 2: Crossing
When you know where you're headed, but you’re not there yet
You made the decision.
Booked the one-way ticket. Gave notice. Said yes. Closed the door behind you.
That part’s done.
You’re not drifting. You know what’s next.
And yet—it’s not quite time. You’re between departure and arrival.
(Hopefully not à la Tom Hanks in The Terminal, but still—these times can feel like that.)
This is one of the most familiar types of liminal space.
You’ve moved out of one identity, structure, or setting—but haven’t yet landed in the next.
Maybe you’ve taken a new job that hasn’t started yet.
Maybe you’re moving cities, and your current apartment is full of half-packed boxes.
Maybe you’ve stepped out of academia, corporate life, or full-time caregiving—but haven’t yet shaped what this new rhythm will actually feel like.
This time can feel full of logistics:
Call the movers.
Get your family photos off the work computer.
Unlock social security.
Give the now-departed teenager’s room a really good scrub.
But the truth is, your body’s often still catching up to what’s happening.
And staying in logistics mode? It’s one of those deceptively productive ways we all use to defer the real discomfort—and the real opportunity—of stepping into who we’re becoming.
(I should know. I’ve absolutely done that—more than once. Here’s what happened.)
I don’t, of course, mean an About Face-style transformation
(Side note: I’m very impressed with my own movie recall today.)
But every transition does prompt an update—
to who we are, how we see ourselves, and how we move through the world.
Liminal spaces aren’t just about moving forward.
They’re where you do the important, slightly uncomfortable work of figuring out who you’re becoming—preferably before you commit to a tattoo or a dramatic haircut.
P.S. If you’re craving some structure to this movement, read on and join me next week…
I’m in the middle of five blog posts where I’m sharing the five different types of liminal spaces, from most obvious to least. (Not for nothing, I’ve been through every one — more than once!)
If this space feels familiar to you, join me for Liminal by Design on May 9. (Or sign up to get the recording and access to the month-long pop-up community.)
It’s a short, potent course to help you make sense of this moment—and take tangible action inside it.
You’ll also get the rest of this series delivered straight to your inbox when you sign up.
Photo via Unsplash