We are living in liminal space.
Liminal space is a threshold; that time of transition when we leave the past behind but have not yet arrived into the future.
It can be precarious, like the moment the trapeze artist hangs in thin air because she must let go of the swing she is holding before she can reach out to the swing that is ready to take her forward.
Living in today’s liminal space, a time of global health-related physical and social self-containment, is especially precarious.
It triggers two of our fundamental human drivers: to be cautious of the unknown and to live as social beings.
If we don’t let go of the past, like the trapese artist, we’ll either fall or swing backwards and get left hanging. In either case, we’ve missed the moment and the opportunity.
Like the trapeze artist, there are safety nets we can put in place to minimise the fear and impact of falling. Once we do that, we can focus on the thrill - not just of flying through the air but of falling, if we have one, and the thrill of bouncing onto the net!
The first step: The first stop over a threshold of liminal space it to set your safety net. Put yourself in a quiet place, relaxed position and focused mindset to reflect and record your thoughts:
♦ In your past, when you moved through a liminal time and successfully created a positive future, what were the skills, feelings attitudes, resources and support you used?
Record as much detail as possible about your internal and external states during these experiences.
Record you thoughts about a range of experiences and look for patterns in your safety nets.
♦ What additional skills, feelings, attitudes, resources and support do you need now so you and those your support can thrive in these times of transition?
Record as much detail as possible about your internal and external states during these experiences.
Record you thoughts about a range of experiences and look for patterns in your safety nets.
♦ What will you do to create the safety net you need for the liminal space you are in now?
Please share your thoughts, experiences and questions on safetynets.
Together we can learn to leverage the liminal space we are all now experiencing.
The first stop over a threshold of liminal space it to set your safety net.