06/21/2026
Thriving in Uncertainty
In our culture that’s fixated on getting things done, we tend to see life as a bunch of destinations. We treat the times between as uncomfortable bridges we need to cross. We cheer for achievements and arrivals but fail to value how much the in-between—those spaces where we’ve left one stage but haven’t stepped into another yet—can change us. When we embrace these in-between periods instead of rushing through them, we discover they have a lot they can teach us.
Throughout time, wise traditions have seen the spiritual meaning in these in-between spaces. Indigenous cultures around the world use coming-of-age rituals to create these threshold experiences with intention. These traditions share a common idea: Change happens in the spaces between what’s past and what’s to come. As Thomas Merton wrote, “There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence ... activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence.”
Using my knowledge of thoughtful psychology and mindfulness teaching, I came up with ways to help me live in this space of change with more awareness and openness.
Threshold Journaling: Every morning, I wrote without a plan, starting with the prompt: “In this space between what was and what will be, I notice ...” This easy habit helped me record small inner changes that I might have missed otherwise. I noticed recurring themes of control and surrender appearing in my entries, or how my anxiety peaked on Mondays when I felt I “should” be productive.
Intentional Incompletion: I started a daily routine of leaving something unfinished on purpose—a puzzle with one piece missing, a paragraph not written, or a drawing half-done. This practice helped me get better at dealing with the unsolved parts of my life. It reminded me that finishing isn’t always the main goal and that beauty exists in things that aren’t complete.
Wisdom Walks: Three times a week, I took walks without a set place to go or a specific reason beyond just to think. These weren’t like walks for exercise with a goal. Instead, these strolls let me pay attention to whatever popped up—be it thoughts inside or things I saw outside. Often, I’d spot things in nature that matched how I felt inside: seed pods waiting for the right time to open or trees standing bare between seasons.
These habits didn’t speed up my change or give me quick answers. Rather, they helped me build a new bond with not knowing—one full of wonder instead of worry, openness instead of pushback.
Excerpt from Thriving in Uncertainty: The Sacred Pause,
by Leslie Williams
