Waiting For My New Self To Arrive
What it's like living in the in-between.
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You know that feeling, when you’re not your old self anymore, but you’re not quite your new self either? The new version is on its way, you can feel it, but it hasn’t arrived quite yet?
That’s the in-between. The annoying, uncomfortable, in-between.
I’ve been living in the in-between since early January. And it’s been exactly all those things, annoying, uncomfortable, frustrating, exhausting, mind-boggling, and more.
But it’s also been expansive, luxurious, busy, slow, and eye-opening.
I can sense the tipping point is near. I’m crossing the dreaded, exciting, threshold to meet my new self.
So what have I been doing in the in-between?
Great question! Thank you so much for asking! (Don’t you just love when I talk to myself as if this isn’t, like, my newsletter?🤪)
Some days I have no answer to that questions. Some days I’m just going through the motions, feeling very lost.
Why is it’s so easy for us to recognize and remind others that overnight success stories are few and far-between (is there even such a thing as an overnight success? Ask any successful entrepreneur and they’ll tell you it was most definitely not overnight!).
Yet when it happens to us, we start to chip away at our confidence. Feeling like we should always be doing more. Thinking “maybe if I just send one more email, that will be the one.”
And maybe it does. Sometimes one email can changes everything.
But I’ve learned, if it’s meant for you, it will find you. I’ve learned, you can’t force this type of change and transformation. And just like the rest of my life, everything happens at the exact time it’s suppose to.
To be clear, there was nothing wrong with my old self. I quite liked her. She served her purpose, and I’m taking many of her qualities with me. The difference between her and me is that she aspired to do the things I’m actually doing now.
On the good days, I can recognize how I’ve been setting the stage and laying the groundwork for my new self to come in.
To put it simply, I’ve been trusting the timing of my new self and following my instincts. Listening to pings that land in my lap as sparks of inspiration.
Usually this means sending a simple note. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a note of “I see you.” or “Congratulations on your latest launch!” And, as you can probably guess, it always seems to land with them at the right time.
To keep me from sliding into a very dark place, I’ve been quite rigorous in my daily non-negotiable. Keeping them simple for the hard days:
Morning dog walks
Morning shower
Meditation
Journaling - This is not always an everyday thing, but often a 5-day-a-week
Yes, I know. Just another person telling you that time spent outside, meditation, and journaling is the key to happiness. Blah blah blah, boring. I wish I had something more groundbreaking to share with you.
But it’s not as if these habits have suddenly made my world all rainbows and butterflies; that is the farthest from how I feel most days. I’ve been doing these for years now, even before finding myself in the in-between. But they have prevented me from being enveloped by a very dark void that would be even harder to dig myself out of.
They are my bare minimum.
And on days when I feel up for a little more, I try to create something. Anything. Something in the kitchen, playing with concrete in the backyard, writing for this newsletter, filming or editing videos for YouTube, etc.
Anything that feels manageable or inspired that day. The tricky part for this self-proclaimed workaholic, is allowing the bare minimum be enough.
So there you have it! My super groundbreaking-never-been-done-before advice for when you find yourself in the in-between.
Figure out your non-negotiable(s). Even if it’s just one.
Follow your inspirations, no matter how ridiculous they may seem.
Create something. Anything. Even if the no one else ever sees it.
Have you ever found yourself in this annoying phase of life, or are you currently living in the in-between? Did you recognize it when it happened, and how did you get through it?
Hiya! My name’s Brooke, author of The Everything Digest. A place on the internet that really is just a little bit of everything. Recipes, things I can’t get enough of, personal experiences as I navigate major life changes, and everything in between. No matter how you arrived here or even if you subscribe, I’m so glad you’re here🫶🏼
One thing that's been helping regulate my nervous system on the hard days: The Class, cannot recommend enough! Jaycee and Pixie are my fav teachers❤️
https://browse.theclass.digital