Feeling Stuck in Midlife? You Might Be in an In-Between Season

Have you ever felt like life is shifting, but nobody sent you the memo on what exactly is happening?

Like, you know, you're not where you used to be, but you're also not fully in the next thing yet either.

It's that weird middle space where the old normal doesn't fit, the new normal hasn't shown up, and you're just standing there like, okay, so what are we doing here?

If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Because today we're talking about the in between season.

That awkward, uncertain, slightly annoying space where life is changing, but the picture still isn't fully clear.

And if I'm honest, I have been feeling that way myself lately.

So let's talk about it.

Let your spirit fly.

Celebrate the journey every single day.

Aging with grace and style in our own special way.

Welcome to Aging with Grace and Style, the podcast for women over 50 who want to move forward with confidence without feeling like they have to reinvent themselves to do it.

I'm your host, Valerie Hatcher, and every week we have real conversations about mindset, wellness, lifestyle, and what it actually looks like to.

To navigate this season of life with grace, confidence, and, yes, a little bit of sass.

So if you've been feeling a little off, a little in limbo, or maybe like life is asking questions you weren't exactly prepared to answer, then pull up a chair, my friend, because this one is for the woman who knows something is shifting.

She just can't fully see what it's turning into yet.

So let's just start here.

The in between season is weird.

That's the official term I'm using, weird.

It's that space where something has clearly shifted, but the next thing hasn't fully landed yet.

Maybe it's work, maybe it's a retirement decision.

And that's what I'm going through.

I talked about it on a recent episode.

Maybe it's family dynamics changing.

Maybe it's your energy or your priorities or your sense of identity.

Or maybe you just know that you don't feel the same, but you can't quite explain why that's the in between.

And what makes it so frustrating is that nothing is fully wrong, but nothing feels fully settled either.

You're not where you were, but you're not fully where you're going.

You're just kind of in the hallway.

And nobody really likes hallways.

We like rooms.

We like destinations.

We like signs that say you are here and arrows that point to exactly where to go next.

The in between gives you none of that.

It just gives you questions.

And maybe a little attitude.

Because if you're anything like me, you'd at least like a rough draft of the plan.

I think one of the strangest parts of being in an in between season is how awkward it can make simple conversations.

You know when somebody casually asks, so what's new?

And you want to say, well, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and maybe professionally, I appear to be in some kind of transition.

But instead you smile and you say, you know, same old, same old.

Because the truth is, sometimes you don't have neat language for what you're feeling yet.

You just know that something is moving.

And that can be uncomfortable.

Part of why the in between is hard is because we like clarity.

We like plans.

We like timelines.

We like a good beginning, middle, and end.

We do not enjoy being dropped into the middle of a story with no idea how many chapters are left.

And yet, here we are.

Another reason this season feels hard is because it can mess with your confidence a little.

Because once you get to this stage of life, you kind of feel like you should be better at knowing what to do.

You think, I'm grown.

I've lived.

I've been through things.

Why does this still feel so uncertain?

But that's the trap.

We start thinking uncertainty means behind, that not having a clear answer means we're doing something wrong.

That if we were wiser, stronger, more disciplined, or more together, we'd already know what to do.

But that's not true.

Sometimes uncertainty just means you're in transition.

That's it.

Not failing, not lost, not broken.

Just in transition.

And transition is uncomfortable by nature.

I mean, even good transitions can feel awkward.

New jobs, new routines, new seasons in marriage, kids, growing up, your body changing, your priorities changing.

Even when change is needed, it can still feel unsettled while you're in it.

Now, here's the part that's been helping me.

I've been reminding myself that in between, it's not just random discomfort, it may actually be doing something this season.

It has a way of helping you get clear on what you really want.

Not what you used to want.

Not what looked good on paper, not what made sense for the version of you from 10 years ago.

But what do you want now?

And that's a different question.

Because sometimes we keep trying to drag old expectations into a new season, and then we wonder why everything feels off.

It's like trying to squeeze into a version of life that doesn't fit the same way anymore.

And sometimes the in between is where you realize that is also where you start building proof that you can handle uncertainty.

Every day you wake up and keep going without having every answer that counts.

Every day.

You don't panic.

You don't force it.

Don't make a rushed decision just because you're uncomfortable.

That counts too.

You're building resilience, even if it doesn't feel glamorous.

And honestly, a lot of growth is not glamorous.

It's not a highlight reel.

It's not a big aha moment with background music.

Sometimes growth looks like drinking your coffee, taking a deep breath and deciding not to lose your mind before noon.

That's growth too.

I also think that the in between creates space.

And I know space doesn't always feel exciting when what you really want is answers.

But space gives you room to think, room to notice, room to question whether what you've been chasing is even what you want anymore.

Sometimes we need a pause before a pivot.

Sometimes we need stillness before strategy.

And sometimes we need life to stop moving so fast long enough for us to hear ourselves again.

That doesn't mean this season is fun.

Let's not get carried away.

But it may be useful.

So what do you actually do when you're in one of these seasons?

Well, here are a few things I'm learning.

Number one, stop pressuring yourself to have the full answer.

You do not need the five year plan by Friday.

You do not need to figure out your whole future because one area of your life feels uncertain.

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can say is, I don't know yet.

That's not weakness, that's just honesty.

Number two, focus on the next step, not the whole staircase.

You may not know the full picture, but chances are you do know the next thing.

Maybe it's gathering information.

Maybe it's having conversation.

Maybe it's resting before making the decision.

Or maybe it's just staying present and not getting ahead of yourself.

You don't need the entire blueprint.

You just need the next instruction.

Number three, don't isolate.

This kind of season can make you want to pull back, to go quiet and try to figure out everything alone.

And that is truly me.

So I mentioned earlier, I'm in this season and I do find myself just kind of wanting to spend the time alone, thinking through what's next or where I'm going.

But it's not good to disappear.

You don't have to have a polished explanation to stay connected.

You don't need a conclusion to have a conversation.

Sometimes you just need somebody safe to say, yeah, I'm in a weird season right now and Just let that be enough.

4.

Don't force clarity because discomfort is loud.

This one right here.

Sometimes we want to make a quick decision, not because it's time, but because we're tired of not knowing.

That's different.

Not every uncomfortable feeling requires an immediate answer.

Sometimes it just requires patience.

And patience is something that a lot of us don't have.

And maybe a walk.

Or maybe a prayer.

And maybe not making a life decision at 11:30 at night when you're tired and irritated.

Let's be wise.

5.

Trust that something is shifting even if you can't see it yet.

This is the part that I keep coming back to.

The in between isn't necessarily confusion.

It may be construction.

Something may be getting clearer.

Something may be being rearranged.

Something in you may be growing stronger, calmer, wiser, or more honest.

And even if you can't see the full picture yet, that doesn't mean that nothing is happening.

So here's a question that I want to leave you with.

Where in your life are you demanding instant clarity when maybe what you really need is a little more grace?

And maybe another one?

What if this season isn't proof that you're behind, but proof that something is shifting?

Sit with that.

No pressure, no dramatic journal assignment.

And if you listen regularly, you know that I'm always telling you to journal.

Just let it roll around in your mind a little.

Now, if you're in an in between season right now, I just want to remind you, you're not lost.

You're not late.

You're not doing life wrong.

You're in transition.

And yes, transition can be awkward.

Or as I said before, sometimes a little weird.

It can be unclear.

It can be inconvenient, and sometimes it can feel like life put you on hold without asking permission.

But that doesn't mean the season is pointless.

It may be doing more than you realize.

So give yourself permission to not have every answer right now.

Take the next step you can see.

Stay connected and trust that clarity has a way of coming.

Often a little later than we'd prefer, but right on time nonetheless.

And as always, keep showing up for yourself with grace, style, and a touch of sass.

Thanks for hanging out with me today.

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Until next time, keep shining.

With grace, style and a touch of sass, it.