Welcome to Part 2 of our 4-part Transformation Series!
“We want transformation to be quick, obvious, and decisive. But more often, it’s slow, quiet, and full of uncertainty.”
You’ve stepped into change, hoping for a dramatic shift, some unmistakable signal that confirms you’re on the right track.
Instead, what shows up is… FOG.
Welcome to the messy middle.
This is the part no one warns you about-the space between what was and what’s coming. The tools you used to count on don’t quite fit anymore, and the new ones haven’t settled in. You’re in the process of becoming, but you’re not yet sure who.
And it’s here, in this in-between, that the real work begins.
Why the Middle Feels So Uncomfortable
If your life were a story, this would be the initiation phase-the part where the hero is tested.
You’ve said yes to growth, but now you’re in unfamiliar terrain. And perhaps you are feeling like you’d like to return to the way things were.
Emotionally, it might show up like:
- Feeling scattered, foggy, or exhausted
- Losing interest in things you once loved
- Getting extra sensitive or reactive
- Doubting yourself or second-guessing your choices
But this isn’t a wrong turn. This is growth in progress.
The discomfort is your old identity loosening its grip. The tension is your new self beginning to take shape. Lean into the chaos!
Why You Can’t Rush Invisible Growth
We live in a world that prizes visibility and output. If growth can’t be plotted on a spreadsheet, we question if it counts.
But transformation isn’t always something you can hold up for proof.
Some of the most powerful shifts happen quietly. When you notice a thought that feels outdated. When you catch yourself hesitating before reacting in a familiar way.
This subtle progress is often the deepest kind:
- You’re rethinking what truly matters
- You’re being gentler with yourself
- You’re asking more honest questions
Roots grow down before anything sprouts up. Remember? Digging?
The AIM Compass: Navigating the Unknown
When the path ahead feels murky, your wisest guide lives inside you. That’s where AIM comes in – Awareness, Intuition, Movement – your compass for uncertain seasons.
Awareness: Notice What’s Nudging You
It starts when you feel that something isn’t quite right. No need for solutions yet. Just pay attention – without judgment.
Try asking:
- What patterns keep showing up?
- Where am I leaking energy or joy?
- What no longer feels aligned?
Awareness doesn’t fix things – it shines the light so you can begin to see.
Intuition: Listen Deeper
After noticing, pause. Don’t rush forward-just listen. Sit in the stillness.
- What truth have I sensed but avoided?
- What would I do if fear wasn’t in the driver’s seat?
- What direction feels quietly right, even if it doesn’t make sense yet?
Your intuition whispers, not shouts. And the more you trust it, the stronger it becomes.
Sometimes, the most aligned movement is rest.
Movement: A Gentle Step Forward
No big leaps required – just a meaningful micro-step.
That might look like:
- Saying yes to something that excites but scares you
- Setting a new boundary
- Declining what no longer fits
Transformation isn’t always visible. Sometimes, the boldest move is inside you: a new belief, a more grounded stance.
Ask yourself:
- What action feels light and true?
- What could I do today that moves me 1% closer to who I’m becoming?
An IW Real-Life Reframe: Jamie’s Story
One emerging leader we worked with at InteraWorks – let’s call her Jamie – hit her messy middle hard. She was mid-career, highly successful, but suddenly questioning everything.
She attended one of our programs, thinking she needed productivity hacks. What she really needed was permission to feel lost. She spent the first two months untangling old metrics of success from her actual values. She had to sit in the space of not knowing.
Eventually, through the AIM model and consistent journaling, she realized she didn’t need to leap to a new job. She needed to renegotiate her current role to align with her purpose. She shifted meetings, redesigned her time, and redefined how she showed up.
She told us later:
“The change didn’t happen all at once. It was like I was tuning a radio dial, and suddenly – I could hear myself clearly.”
If You’re Here Now, You’re Not Behind
You’re not broken. You’re not failing.
You’re in the lab. You’re composting. You’re unlearning and rebuilding.
That’s forward motion.
Here’s how to stay grounded:
- Name It: “I’m in the middle of something new.” That alone brings compassion.
- Track Tiny Wins: Write down the whispers, nudges, and small shifts you notice.
- Talk to Future You: Ask her what she’d want you to know today. Let her guide your next step.
Reflection Prompts
- What truth is nudging me that I haven’t wanted to face?
- What is my intuition quietly saying?
- What small, true action could I take this week?
What’s Next
In Blog 3, we’ll explore how transformation reshapes identity and relationships – what it means to outgrow roles, how to stay authentic around people who expect the “old you,” and how to walk your path when the world rewards performance over purpose.
Until then, breathe. You’re not behind. You’re in the middle. And that’s precisely where the magic starts to root. Keep digging.
Co-Authors:
Kessa Carrol, InteraWorks Content Design + Facilitator
Stacy Cross, InteraWorks Director of Content + Branding
About InteraWorks
InteraWorks is a global learning company on a mission to elevate the human experience at work. Specializing in professional development and performance enablement, we offer top-rated learning programs based on four defined conditions that must exist for individuals, teams including Effective Edge, Best Year Yet, and the Essentials series. Our integrated learning framework and online tools generate immediate and sustainable breakthroughs in performance. Through decades of working at all levels in enterprise companies across many industries, we’ve built a reputation for helping people and organizations harness their focus, mindset, talent, and energy to produce results that matter most.
We’ve defined four conditions that must exist for an individual, team, or organization to be effective within the arena of performance and development; Accountability, Focus, Alignment, and Integrity. We’ll continue to explore these and more in our blog and look forward to your engagement and interaction with us. Stay tuned as we engage the edges.