Lost in Transition: What to Do in Between
May 1, 2025
A Doorway
There are moments in life when a path goes silent. You’re between goals, jobs, and identities. You’ve outgrown something, but the next version of you hasn’t revealed itself yet. This is the in-between.
Transitions can trigger what, in the clinical world, is known as existential distress. This shows up as aimlessness, numbness, low motivation, or restlessness. We can start to lose our sense of agency, and with it, our connection to hope.
As someone who’s spent years supporting others through life transitions, I’ve learned that this “lost” feeling is often part of something deeper. It’s a doorway, only it doesn’t always feel like one.
Polish here, shine there.
That saying profoundly expresses that when you’re unsure of your next big step, you just need to do something. Take care of a corner of your life. Do a small thing: clean your desk, organize a drawer, go to the gym, write a paragraph. Not because it’s directly tied to your end goal, but because action creates momentum. It’s neuroscience and physics at work.
The Psychology + Physics of Forward Motion
Clinically, we know that during times of stress, the nervous system can go into freeze mode, a response to overwhelm, grief, or ambiguity. This is common in depression, grief, and burnout. It’s your body trying to protect you from the unknown.
Behavioral activation, a therapeutic tool I use often with clients, helps reignite motivation by encouraging small, achievable actions. This is because, just like Newton’s First Law of Motion teaches: An object at rest stays at rest. An object in motion stays in motion.
So no, organizing your closet might not feel life-changing.
But when you polish here, you shine there.
You gain momentum elsewhere.
The Midlife Crisis Pivot
Midlife marks a natural developmental shift through the doorway between who we were and who we’re becoming. In clinical terms, it often signals the start of integrating the parts of ourselves we’ve neglected, outgrown, or forgotten. It’s common to experience a sense of restlessness or grief over missed opportunities, or a deep questioning of identity, purpose, and connection.
This phase can bring emotional disorientation: careers may stall, relationships shift, and long-held roles no longer feel fulfilling. There’s often a quiet longing for meaning, freedom, and authenticity. While midlife can feel destabilizing, it’s also an invitation to reorient and consciously choose how the next chapter unfolds. It’s an invitation to pivot and to recreate an outdated vision.
Micro-Movements Create Macro-Change
Start small. Because, while clarity may not come all at once, motion will awaken your vision.
Try These Strategies:
Polish here, shine there
Take any action. You don’t need to wait for motivation. Fold the laundry, send an email, take a walk. These small steps remind your brain that you’re capable.
Journal your endings
Transitions often carry invisible grief. You’re letting go of old identities, dreams, and relationships. Writing them down will help you integrate these losses so you can move forward lighter.
Rebuild structure
When life is unpredictable, grounding rituals help. Morning pages, walks, workouts, or recovery meetings create rhythm when your world feels out of sync.
Let it be messy
Healing isn’t linear, and dreams don’t unfold on command. Paths twist, stall, and begin again. You’re evolving.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the doorway between relationships, jobs, cities, or versions of yourself, life might feel like it’s dragging or has stopped still. You're not lost in transition.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is anything. Clarity is already on its way.
Journaling Prompt:
What have I outgrown, and what am I afraid to let go of?
Rooted in truth. Guided by clarity.
Clarity Haus
