Reinventing - U with Danielle Silverman: When what you do matches who you are: Leaning into Liminality with Guest Samantha Kris

In the context of personal development and life transitions, liminality is that transformative, in-between state where a person has left something behind but has not yet fully emerged into their new state or identity. It’s like being in limbo and is often associated with uncertainty, ambiguity, and potentiality, but also creativity and growth. So, in relation to transition, we can say that liminality is a component or stage of the larger transition process. While "transition" refers broadly to the process of changing from one state or condition to another, "liminality" captures the experience of the in-between phase. For example, consider a career change. The overall transition might involve leaving a job, searching for a new one, and finally, starting a new role. Liminality would encompass that middle period—after leaving the old job but before starting the new one—where your identity is in flux, existing between the known past and the unknown future. This phase can be challenging and uncomfortable, as it involves dealing with uncertainty and possibly a sense of loss. However, it is also a tremendous period of opportunity for growth and transformation, as you are forced to reassess your identity, values, and desires.