Bridging Who You Were with Who You Will Be (Embracing the Process of Becoming)

You’re standing at a crossroads in your career. What used to feel aligned no longer does, and you’re drawn toward something new—but that “new” feels fuzzy, unclear, or even intimidating. You wonder if you should leap fully into this new identity or respect the slow process of getting there.

This tension—between the urge to transform and the reality of transition—is where many people get stuck. It’s not just about the external decision (leaving a job, starting something new); it’s about how your inner world can keep pace with those outer changes.

When you try to leap too quickly into a new identity, you risk overwhelming your nervous system. You may find yourself caught in a frustrating cycle:

• You jump into the abyss of a new direction without the grounding you need.

• The uncertainty feels too much to bear, so you retreat back to what’s familiar.

• You second-guess your decisions, feel stuck, and struggle to move forward.

This can leave you spinning in circles—oscillating between old patterns and new possibilities—without making meaningful progress.

Rather than forcing yourself to immediately embody a new identity, consider honoring the space of transition. This doesn’t mean staying stuck or avoiding change; it means pacing yourself in a way that allows your mind, body, and heart to catch up with your evolving perspective. The process of becoming is a journey, not a race.

For instance, if you’ve had a long and successful career in marketing but now feel called to something more spiritual, it might feel overwhelming to immediately abandon your expertise and jump into a brand-new field. Instead, you could transition into marketing coaching for spiritual entrepreneurs, bridging what you know with where you’re headed. Over time, as you gain clarity and confidence, you can let go of the marketing work and step fully into the spiritual coaching you’re drawn to.

This approach respects both your past and your future, giving you a stable foundation to build upon without overloading your system.

The Role of Bridging Work

Bridging work—using your current skills as a stepping stone toward your next phase—can be a powerful tool. It allows you to stay grounded while exploring new directions, reducing the overwhelm of starting from scratch.

If you feel like you’re running in circles, ask yourself these questions:

• What small step feels exciting but manageable right now? Focus on progress, not perfection.

• What parts of my current career still feel aligned with who I’m becoming? Use those as anchors during your transition.

• What’s the simplest way to explore this new direction without overwhelming myself? This could be through a side project, training, or part-time work.

Remember, you don’t have to become your future self all at once. You can bridge the gap and let the process of becoming unfold organically.

Trust the Process

Your transition isn’t just about what you do; it’s about who you’re becoming. By respecting the time it takes to embody your new identity, you give yourself the best chance to step into your future with clarity and confidence—without losing yourself along the way.

It’s not a race to get to the other side. It’s a journey of discovering who you are and what you’re here to create. The messy middle is not about rushing through; it’s about fully embracing the in-between. It’s about respecting where you are now—uncertain, messy, and undefined—feeling uncomfortable and confusing as you bridge between identities. The identity you embody in this in-between space may feel like a compromise, not fully you, but it’s crucial to allow all parts of you to catch up with the changes. This kind of transformation requires patience and care as you slowly step into the self that's emerging.

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Photo by Suzanne D. Williams on Unsplash