Lower Case Liminality
April 1, 2026
Ch Ch Ch Changes
April 17, 2026
In this series we are exploring lower case liminal change, those times when a bump in the road becomes a catalyst for change in your life. Bumps are aggravations that you have the resources to manage. Most of the time you deal with the interruption then get back to your normal life. Some bumps leave behind “noise” that can’t be ignored – feelings of irritation or unhappiness. This leads to taking some steps to calm down the noise. The steps lead to change. By the time the process is over, some aspect of your life is on a new path.
Real life stages don’t come with street signs. Naming them allows you to reflect on your current or past life journey.
Bump
When life is going along, sometimes you hit a bump in the road, an unwelcome disruption. It may be annoying, or even scary, but it is nothing you can’t handle. You have the resources to manage it: friends or family step up, you know how to cope with this, and your finances are adequate to the challenge. It is a short, unpleasant roller coaster ride. Once the problem is solved, your reaction may be gratitude for the help you received and satisfaction that you managed it well. You are tired but ready for life to get back to normal. The end of this stage is relief, and determination to catch up to where you were.
Most of the time, that is the end of the story. You manage and move on. Stuff happens and you take care of it. There are times though where the interruption leaves behind a buzz of annoying thoughts and emotions, a noise that won’t quit.
Noise
After the bump is managed, you get busy catching up with any tasks that got missed along the way. Some people have no idea that you were dealing with anything and don’t need to know. Others are proud of how you coped or are annoyed that you weren’t available when they wanted or needed something from you. You managed, you moved on, and now you are back to business — except for the noise in your head.
The bump triggered thoughts or feelings that aren’t fading away. Something has shifted in your perception. You may be thinking about how that bump came to be, or why you didn’t see it coming. You may be triggered by other people’s reactions during or after the event. Something about that bump stirred up dissatisfaction with your current journey. Often your initial response is to re-focus your efforts on getting back to normal. Change is disruptive and takes energy. With this noise buzzing in the background, you may first decide to get life back on track, to get back to normal.
A Resilient Response
Unpack the noise. Take time to process how you are feeling and what you are thinking. This increases your resilience. It may feel silly; you have managed many other disruptions in life and are a pro at getting back up and keeping on. But this bump knocked something loose in your psyche that wants to be heard. Listening to yourself allows you to avoid two extremes: forcing yourself back onto the track you were on OR impulsively creating change without sorting out what would best meet your needs. Taking time to sort out how this disruption matters, at this time in your life, gives you the chance to plan for your next steps.
You have dealt with a bump in the road, nothing out of the ordinary in life. However, this time you are left with an uneasy feeling or lingering thoughts about the situation, a noise that won’t go away. As you catch up with life as usual, take time out to listen to that noise so you can plan your next steps in a way that meets your needs.
As we explore this kind of lower case liminal change, I am open to hearing your thoughts. You are welcome to comment wherever this is posted or send an email directly to me at [email protected]. I wonder if you can look back and see how a bump became the catalyst for change. If you are in this process right now, I would love to hear your experiences. In all things I wish you resilience so that you can thrive.
Peace,
Laura
