I’m learning to take risks without the old safety nets – no leadership team, no coach on speed dial, no place to blend in if things go sideways. After months in a cocoon of necessary in‑between, I’m cracking open and letting a new identity dry in the air. The stakes feel higher and the fear is loud, but my aliveness is louder.

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100 Liminal Days is an experimental project of embracing my current transitional season after exiting my business by sharing an honest, real-time account of my self-initiation experience in daily posts. I’m using The Artist’s Way as a guiding tool, and sending shorter weekly recaps only via my newsletter. Visit Day 1/100 to learn more and sign up to get the weekly recaps delivered to your inbox.

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Recently, I’ve been doing more things that scare me. I’m taking action in ways that require a certain dose of courage and audacity that feels new to me. Of course, it’s not the first time in my life that I’ve felt bold enough to try new things with higher risks involved – I did that all the time when I was running my business.

But this feels different. It’s more personal and individual. It feels like the stakes are much higher because I don’t have my business or a team to sort of…blend into. In business, when I considered taking a risk, I consulted my leadership team, and received guidance from my business coach or my entrepreneurial peers. Plus, there were almost always dozens of other factors I could blame if something didn’t pan out. Yes, I was ultimately responsible as the CEO, but I always approached risks through collaboration which seemed to assuage my fears.

Emerging From the Liminal Space

Now, in this new season without those protective buffers in place, and with what I would consider higher levels of uncertainty present, I initially retreated into this cocoon-like liminal space to safely explore my options for my next “what’s next” move. I think that was the right thing to do – it was not cowardice – but at some point, we must begin to take steps to emerge from the in-between.

Using this cocoon metaphor, I think I’ve cracked open my safe home, and my new butterfly body has emerged, still slightly weighed down by the goo remnants of my old identity, but I’m drying off. And lately, the liminal space is giving me more opportunities to practice flapping my butterfly wings. To shake off those old remnants and test a few new ideas.

But I’m in new territory – not just a new area of thought leadership (if that’s what you can call whatever craft is materializing here) but also a new identity. So, I feel more vulnerable in taking risks nowadays. There’s nothing to hide behind anymore.

Yet, I’m doing it, even with the fear present. Without consultation. Without collaboration. Without anything or anyone to blame if things go sideways.

And you know what? It is absolutely invigorating. It resembles the rush I got the first time I jumped out of an airplane just after my 40th birthday. (But even in that experience, I had the full support of my tandem jump partner who had done this probably hundreds of times.)

The Joy of Risky Business

Taking risks is necessary in the business of changing of our lives. As I’ve said before, there are no short cuts in the liminal space. I truly believe that because I have lingered here and allowed myself to mourn the loss of my old existence and stabilize myself once again, I have grown my metaphorical wings that will carry me forward. Not just into the “next”, but into the life of my dreamer’s dreams. I say, “my dreamer’s dreams” because where I am heading is beyond my own dreams. I couldn’t even find my desires – my authentic taste – when I first punched my ticket into the in-between.

I set this project’s timeline to 100 days because I liked the sound of a big challenge and a nice round number. The Artist’s Way is twelve weeks long, so I could have stopped it there, too. But something told me to choose 100 days. And now, I am grateful for the extra time to practice some wing flaps, to shake off that last little bit of sticky goo.

Because now, I know what I like. I am seeing where my interests overlap and how I can begin to create my own niche. Sure, I still need to sort out the delivery system for energy exchanges (aka making money), but that’s where the risky wing flaps come into play. Like making qigong training videos on YouTube even though I haven’t finished my teacher training yet. Or leading a friend through an Internal Family Systems therapy session to help her better understand the root of some big emotions. Or sharing qigong videos, commentary on the liminal space, and musings on creativity on my LinkedIn. (I went several months without posting on social media, and a few weeks ago started inviting people to check out the newsletter and blog.)

All of these little wing flaps are functioning like a sifter. I’m seeing what feels good to me and what doesn’t. I’m attracting people who are in their own liminal space – gathering my tribe. I’m creating a sense of community for myself and others, and it seems to me like this is a key component of understanding “what’s next” for me.

And truthfully – I’m really happy with “right now”. “What’s next” will be there, and until I get there, I’m happy right here, right now.

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