Not Who I Was, and Not Yet Who I’ll Be: Living in the In-Between

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You have to go through something to learn from it and come out better. The “in-between” is both uncomfortable and essential. When you bypass something, you lose the knowledge and wisdom you were supposed to gain from it. Your ideas may seem like a momentary win; however, you will eventually discover that you have gaps in practical knowledge that hold you back and put you at a disadvantage.

You are not lost, you are becoming a new version of yourself. 

Growing into what you are going to be. Learning the skills and gifts that will make you who you are. You’ll want to understand your skills the moment they begin to reveal themselves—how they work, where they lead.

The in-betweens are where great new skills form. And yet, these times are often filled with worry and uncertainty. Learn what you must, and ensure you understand the what and whys as thoroughly and promptly as possible. You will be better off in the long run.

Identity shifts often require grief and grace. As you grow, you will find that you are continually acquiring new knowledge and wisdom. And what do new things frequently do? They push the old learned items into the background and cover them over as unneeded or obsolete. That can leave us confused and unsure of what to do next. You are losing some things you love and discovering others that you are uncertain of. It is a time of grief for the old and a time of grace for the new, and vice versa.

Let go of needing to define yourself too soon. The best thing to do is not to try explaining yourself now. Instead, wait and watch to see what you will become. That way, you won’t have to come up with a different personality every 4 days.

 You should be aware that during this time, you will have a high potential for various personality types. What will count is how they work out and how you work your way through them. I know how hard patience is, yet it is what you will need here. 

Trust the unfolding. You’re becoming, and that’s more than enough right now.

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Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society.

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