You’re Not in the Upside Down. You’re Just in Between.
“What’s Happened"?
The elevator stopped.
Not at the top. Not at the bottom.
Just… stuck.
You wedge open the doors and look out — only to find yourself caught between two floors. Not high enough to climb out. Not low enough to go back.
It’s disorienting.
Claustrophobic.
You start to wonder if you’ve slipped into another dimension.
Is this the Upside Down?
When Life Hits Pause — Without Warning
If you’ve ever been between jobs, in a limbo relationship, or standing on the edge of a major life shift, you’ve likely felt this moment.
You’re no longer who you were.
But you’re not yet who you’re becoming.
Nothing seems to move.
And the worst part? You can’t make it move.
The old strategies — push harder, make a list, take action — just bounce off the walls. The button lights up, but the elevator doesn’t budge.
That’s when it gets eerie. Not horror-movie eerie… more like “where the hell am I?” eerie.
And that’s when a lot of people panic.
This Isn’t the Upside Down — It’s the In Between
The Upside Down is a distortion — a world that mirrors reality but warps it in terrifying ways.
The In Between?
It’s not a distortion. It’s a transition.
And transitions are supposed to feel weird.
The rules do change. What used to matter might not anymore. What used to work… probably doesn’t. It’s not because you’ve failed. It’s because you’re outgrowing your old framework.
The In Between is where your brain and your identity try to reorganize.
Your routines fall apart.
Your emotions surge.
Your direction blurs.
But this isn’t a breakdown. It’s a recalibration.
What to Do When You’re Halfway Between Floors
1. Don’t hit the button again.
Trying to force clarity too soon can backfire. You’re not stuck because you’re lazy or broken — you’re stuck because you’re rebuilding. Hitting the same mental buttons only delays the deeper shift that wants to happen.
2. Name what’s fading.
Sometimes the discomfort comes from grieving an old identity, even if you chose toleave it. Say it out loud: “I’m no longer the person who…” That clarity alone can create movement.
3. Listen for what’s emerging.
The In Between isn’t just the end of something — it’s the quiet start of something else. Pay attention to new curiosities, subtle impulses, or emotional shifts. They’re not random. They’re guideposts.
You’re Not Alone in This Space
I’ve lived in the In Between more times than I can count — after roles ended, after I walked away from “shoulds,” after I realized the path I worked so hard to stay on… was no longer mine.
And I’ve walked through it with clients who whisper, “I don’t know who I am anymore.”
That’s not a crisis. That’s the sound of emergence.
You don’t have to solve it all at once.
You just have to stop assuming the doors are broken —
and start trusting that they’ll open when you’re ready to step onto the right floor.
Need support while you’re between stories?
Let’s talk. I help people navigate these strange, meaningful, foggy chapters — and emerge with clarity and direction.
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