The in-between spaces.

Today’s thought from Iyanla Vanzant is my very favourite piece of her wisdom. Her message is about being in that space where I know that the old doesn’t serve me any longer, but I don’t quite have the clarity of what the next steps look like…

“You must be ready in mind, in body, and in spirit before you can make a change. People cannot convince you to do it. You cannot force you to do it. Everything you think, say, and do until that happens is just preparation. So love yourself right now. Honor yourself right now. Keep talking to yourself in encouraging ways. Keep thinking ready thoughts. In the meantime, try to remember you will not be ready until you are ready.” – Iyanla Vanzant

Our journey of “growth” doesn’t jump from A to Z but moves through layers, both inward and also outwardly.

The inward journey:

Our inner journey is a slow process of coming to an understanding of who/what we really are. And then from understanding, making our way to acceptance. Acceptance of the past that created our thought processes. Acceptance of our past need for certain coping mechanisms in order to feel safe. Accepting our past SELF for not knowing any better, and now – one step at a time without blaming our old self – making those new choices to create a future we want to be a part of.

But we only become ready for each of these steps one at a time. 

The outward journey:

And so it is too, with the new that we want to draw into our lives. Making changes to our careers, to our relationships, and perhaps even relocating. Our journey outward also happens one layer at a time creating new habits, new routines, new patterns, new responses, taking steps forward.

And again, we become ready for these new layers, one at a time. 

The problem is…

… how we deal with the in-between times when it feels like we are stuck. When it feels like, “yes there’s been some growth, but now I’ve become stagnant…?”

Sometimes we’re just not ready yet, and how we see ourselves during these liminal times is a huge factor in how we navigate the next steps. 

This is where the above wisdom from Iyanla Vanzant can help support you… love yourself right now, honour yourself right now, understand that you are busy preparing, keep encouraging yourself and keep thinking ready thoughts. You will not be ready until you’re ready. But in the meantime you are getting ready to be ready.

There is a space between “no longer” and “not yet”, the sensing that something is coming to an end without having clarity of what’s next. This can either become the quicksand that you lose your life in, or a powerful time of preparation.

For any change to take place what we need most is patience, and today’s meditation is a great tool for practicing patience. Learning how to BE with exactly where you find yourself right now, without losing hope if the progress feels slow.

Mantras for the liminal space:

• I am not stuck, I am preparing.
• I am getting ready to be ready.
• Self-compassion and patience is my anchor.
• The in-between space holds the potential for profound change.
• I trust the process, and I trust myself.

By embracing the liminal space and approaching it with patience and self-compassion, you can transform this seemingly stagnant phase into a catalyst for positive change. Remember, even the most magnificent butterfly needed a period within its chrysalis before it could take flight. So, breathe deeply, be kind to yourself, and trust that your transformation is unfolding exactly as it should.

– pierre –

Today’s LIVE meditation is: Come to your senses.