Be messy. The space between knowing and not knowing is messy, but therein lies the gift. This liminal space of discomfort is a learning space. Learning about ourselves, learning about our organizations, learning about our leaders.
Uncertainty is destabilizing. Not knowing can be anxiety-producing. Feeling as if you have no control can be scary. Knowing what you want but not knowing if it will manifest can make you nervous. Emotions run high in the liminal space.
This liminal space is the psychological threshold between what was and what could be. It is where personal revolutions can begin. Neuroscience reveals that uncertainty activates brain regions linked to curiosity and learning, while anthropological studies show liminality has always been a sacred catalyst for human transformation.
The paradox? True growth happens when we stop grasping for answers and instead learn to be inquisitive and lean into questions. So, wherein lies the gift? You don’t have to endure the messy space; you can instead adopt a mindset of “productive uncertainty” and run micro-experiments starting with what you can control.
Lean Into the Mess
The human instinct is to rush through uncertainty. We grasp for answers, try to “clean it up,” or numb ourselves to the discomfort. But the mess is fertile ground. In this foggy middle zone, we are forced to see what is beneath the surface—the beliefs, fears, patterns, and assumptions that don’t always show up when things feel clear-cut.
Start With You: Personal Inquiry in the Liminal Space
1. Notice Your Reactions
In moments of uncertainty, our nervous systems light up. Do you get restless? Over-plan? Avoid decisions? Learning to observe how you react to not knowing is a powerful first step. Write down your behaviors and emotional patterns as they arise—without judgment.
2. Ask Better Questions
Instead of “How do I fix this?” try:
- “What am I feeling right now?”
- “What does this situation reveal about my relationship with control?”
- “What is this uncertainty teaching me about patience, trust, or resilience?”
Curiosity is an antidote to fear.
3. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
This is the muscle most people avoid strengthening. Try practices like meditation, breathwork, or journaling specifically during periods of uncertainty. The goal isn’t to “solve” it but to sit with discomfort without fleeing it.
Learning Beyond the Self: Navigating the Unknown with Others
Liminal space isn’t just an internal experience. Organizations, teams, and leaders all cycle through phases of “not yet” and “not sure.” It’s where innovation often begins.
1. Invite Collective Inquiry
Encourage your team to ask open-ended questions:
- “What don’t we know yet?”
- “Where might we need to pause and listen more deeply?”
- “What can we do differently to meet this moment?”
By normalizing inquiry over quick fixes, you create psychological safety, a key ingredient for creativity and long-term growth.
2. Reframe Uncertainty as Opportunity
In leadership and organizations, uncertainty is often framed as risk—but what if it’s also possibility? Being in a liminal space invites and sometimes requires organizations to let go of past processes and stories, making room for new ways of working and leading.
Here are some questions to explore:
- “What new possibilities does this uncertainty open up for our organization?”
- “How might this period of change allow us to innovate in ways we haven’t before?”
- “In what ways could this change make us more resilient and adaptable in the long run?”
3. Stay Present, Stay Adaptive
Encourage agile thinking: hold plans lightly, make room for iteration, and create flexible structures that allow for adaptation. Be open to all ideas and pressure-test them to find the ones that work best for you. It’s about having the courage to remain open to new information as it emerges.
The Gift
The gift of the messy middle is that you grow. Messiness is data, stillness in curiosity fuels clarity, and the collective consciousness you create is a community fueled with oxygen to take you to a future space.
You discover the parts of yourself that are only revealed under pressure, under ambiguity. You notice the hidden patterns and new opportunities in your organization that you’d miss in smoother waters. And you develop the capacity to lead yourself—and others—through uncertainty with more clarity and compassion.
So yes, be messy. Sit with it. Learn from it. The space between knowing and not knowing is where transformation takes root. This liminal season isn’t a problem to solve, but a portal that we will all walk through—one mindful step at a time.
Generative AI was used as a tool to co-create this article.
