What the In-Between Really Is and How to Work With It
You might not have called it this before, but chances are you’ve been in it.
The in-between.
It’s the space after something has shifted but before what’s next has fully arrived. That place where things feel unclear, unsettled or just different. Maybe you’ve left a job, a relationship or a version of yourself behind. Or maybe nothing has changed on the outside, but inside, something is stirring. You can feel it. Something is off. Something is opening.
And now you’re in that unfamiliar, in-between space.
Not who you were.
Not yet who you’re becoming.
Just here.
The in-between is a real and valid part of growth, even if it rarely gets named. The more I’ve worked with it in my own life, the more I’ve come to see how powerful it actually is once we stop trying to get out of it as quickly as possible.
What the in-between can feel like
Foggy or uncertain
Slower than usual
Unmotivated or disconnected from your usual routines
A pull to rest, reflect, or step back without knowing exactly why
Emotional, even if nothing big is happening
Like something is coming, but it hasn’t arrived yet
It can also feel like grief. Even if what’s ending is something you chose or something you’ve outgrown, your nervous system might still be catching up. The in-between holds that, too.
What the in-between is not
It’s not failure
It’s not laziness
It’s not being stuck
It’s not something to fix or rush through
This space is a natural part of transformation. But we live in a world that celebrates action, productivity and having a clear plan. That’s why the in-between can feel so uncomfortable, especially if you’ve been taught to measure progress by how much you’re doing. This is usually the point where people try to power through or leap ahead before they’re ready. That’s also when things tend to get even more confusing.
What this space can actually offer
When you stop pushing for answers and give yourself permission to just be here, you create space for real clarity to emerge.
The in-between can offer:
Time to integrate the parts of you that are shifting
Space to ask yourself what you actually want going forward
A break from old patterns or roles that no longer feel right
Room for new rhythms, insights, or ideas to surface
A deeper sense of trust in yourself and your inner knowing
None of this works on a schedule. It isn’t something you can force by doing more. It happens through presence. Through space. Through small moments of awareness that build over time.
What do you actually do in the in-between?
Not everything.
Not nothing.
But something softer.
You start by paying attention to what’s already here. Where your energy is going. What feels off. What your body is asking for. What your inner voice is quietly saying underneath the noise.
You stay present, even when it’s uncomfortable or unclear.
That doesn’t mean journaling for hours or creating a detailed healing plan. Sometimes it looks like:
Taking a quiet walk without distractions
Pausing before you say yes out of habit
Giving yourself five minutes each morning to check in
Letting yourself cry, rest, move, or do nothing at all
There’s no perfect way to be in this space. But the more you allow yourself to be here, the more it starts to reveal what’s next.
A reminder
If you’re in that space right now—the part that feels uncertain, blurry, or hard to define—you’re not doing it wrong. You’re not lost or behind. You’re in the in-between.
And that matters.
This space isn’t meant to be skipped. It’s asking to be honoured. When you meet it with honesty, compassion, and presence, it can change everything. Even if you can’t see it yet.
Thanks for reading,
Sam
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