Transitions: The Magnificent Messiness of the Middle

In his seminal book “Transitions”, William Bridges lays out the 3 phases of transitions - Endings, the Neutral Zone and New Beginnings. We often find ourselves in this middle place, the Neutral Zone - or as we like to call it, the “messy middle.” The old way (Endings) no longer works or is available, the new way (New Beginnings) is not yet identified or solidified, and it can feel like you are on shaky ground. Just because the change has occurred, or is pushing you to shift, does not mean the transition is complete.

Change is external. Transition is internal.

Transition is discomfort. It’s uncertain. It’s vulnerable. And our tendency - get out of there as fast as we can! Find the new way forward - Go, go, go!

However, the key is to stay. Stay in the messiness. Fight against the urge to bolt as soon as possible. Embrace curiosity. Grant yourself permission to not know the answers. Heck, grant yourself permission to stay here as long as you need. Because in this messy middle is beauty. It’s where the magic happens. It is where growth occurs. It’s where all of the possibilities lie that you could never have imagined. The longer you stay here, the more data and experience you gain that creates a future you couldn’t have ever imagined.

You don’t always have to know the final destination. Sometimes, in the words of Glennon Doyle, we just have to do the next right thing.

The magnificence is in the discovery.