This week, we’ve been viewing houses.
It’s a long journey from deciding to move to actually getting the keys to the new place.
We’re now in liminal space.
Like when you’re searching for a new job, graduating, retiring.
It comes from the Latin limen, meaning threshold, like a doorway. But it also means a boundary, edge, or the point of transition between two states or things.
It’s the blurry zone between chapters, decisions, and identities.
These times are exciting, but they’re also uncomfortable.
The urge to rush
Modern life glorifies milestones. Career, partner, house. Anything that signals progress.
So when we’re in-between, whether it’s a career shift, creative lull, or personal transformation – it can feel like we’ve failed to move forward.
That’s why so many of us scramble to fill the gap:
To rush the next decision.
To say yes before we’re ready.
To label something that isn’t quite formed yet.
This feeling is compounded by our brain’s need for certainty. It craves clarity, control, and completion. (lots of c’s there)
Now that we’ve decided to move, I’m spending hours and hours on property sites searching for the next house. I’m looking for something to hang onto that’s certain. I need to try and picture myself in the future as soon as possible to quieten my mind.
I’m conscious that I’m in liminal space. I don’t want to rush to a decision to quieten my brain. I want to use this time to properly explore what’s important to me about moving.
In an ideal world, I’d take my time to explore all the options, weigh up the pros and cons and wait for the perfect house to come on the market that meets all my criteria.
But time is a luxury and we don’t have all the time in the world to decide.
Exploring liminal spaces on a deadline
You might be mid-house hunt, knowing your current space isn’t right but also not wanting to settle for another almost-right home. You want to hold out for what fits. And yet… time is ticking.
Or maybe you’re in a career transition. You’ve outgrown the old role, but you don’t yet know what comes next. And in the meantime? There’s still work to do. People to support. Groceries to buy.
Most of us don’t get to pause life entirely to figure things out. But that doesn’t mean we have to rush blindly through the in-between.
Even inside constraints, you can carve out a little space – to think, to listen inward, to notice what feels like a yes or a no.
You can move forward with practical steps without abandoning the deeper work.
You can keep searching for the right next thing without betraying what matters most.
Liminality doesn’t require endless time. Just a little bit of attention.
1. Write down your ideal outcomes
Before jumping to what’s available or practical, give yourself five minutes to write down what you truly want from this next phase – whether it’s a house, a job, or a life chapter.
Don’t worry if it sounds unrealistic. Start with the dream, then scale as needed. This gives you a clear internal compass to compare your options against.
“If I could have anything I wanted in this next chapter, it would look like…”
2. Identify your non-negotiables
Liminal spaces often clarify what you’re no longer willing to compromise on. Make a short list of the 3-5 qualities, values, or features you must have – whether it’s natural light in a home or creative freedom in your work.
This helps you move forward with integrity, even when time is short.
3. Try on the future for size
Do a quick imaginative test-drive. Picture each option you’re considering, and mentally walk through a day in that life. Notice how your body feels. Energized? Drained? Flat?
Your nervous system often knows before your brain does.
4. Set a timer for reflection
If you only have 20 minutes between work and dinner, use it. Sit somewhere quiet, set a timer for 5-10 minutes, and free-write answers to:
“What am I afraid of if I wait?”
“What am I afraid of if I choose too fast?”
“What does the wisest version of me know right now?”
5. Choose a small next step – not the final step
You don’t have to figure it all out. Ask yourself:
“What’s one small, low-risk action I could take today to learn more about this path?”
Explore through action, not just thought. It keeps momentum going without forcing a decision.
This might be viewing houses, searching for job opportunities, or booking in a call with someone in your network explore a business idea.
Liminal spaces ask a lot of us
They ask us to wait without knowing. To trust without proof. To act without a clear destination.
But they also offer something rare. A chance to realign, listen to ourselves. To not just move forward – but to move forward on purpose.
If you’re in between things right now – a home, a career, a version of yourself – I hope you’ll give yourself the gift of a little space. Even if life is moving fast and a deadline is looming.
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need to stay connected to what matters.
I’m right there with you.
Emily xxx