Navigating 'Limbo Land'

Ever get that feeling you're waiting for 'it' to happen, but you don't even know what that 'it' is yet?

Of course you do- and not just because this question is ludicrously vague and open to all sorts of interpretation!

What I mean is, you might feel like you're currently in a transitional phase, existing without truly living? Or, perhaps you're living too much, but without a purpose, and therefore still only existing? You could be between jobs, or schools, a relationship, or, you're simply waiting for an opportunity (aka. that magical 'it') to transport you from what you are currently doing (or not doing) and into 'that next level.'

I guess we can call this phase Limbo.

Despite Limbo's identity as a word we conventionally associate with being stuck, this article hopes to change this, and offer a little support in how to navigate Limbo Land.

It helps to categorise Limbo Land into two different regions, defined by what type of transition you may be in:

1. Flat Limbo- the side of Limbo Land whose habitants feel they are in a bit of a rut. If you live here you probably feel a little dissatisfied or lost within your current life chapter, and you might not even realise you're in a transition.

For example, you may be stuck at your parents' house, eager to move out, yet uncertain of where your next step lies. Or, you're just living one working day to the next, but craving something a little more? Maybe you're just existing, waiting for that 'it' to come and save you?

Firstly, Flat Limbo isn't a purgatory, nor a void; it's a space for recuperation, experimentation, and discovery. Try not to look at this transition, this period of flatness, as something to conquer, to escape from. You don't need to be saved by that 'it'. You are IT! Use this time to get to know yourself better- try new things, meet new people, and start new hobbies.

Don't contemplate on how to get out of Flat Limbo, learn how to thrive in this place, and before you know it, it won't be phase, merely another one of life's exciting crossroads.

Easier said than done no? Well, here's a few tips in ways you can navigate Flat Limbo:

• Try New Things; find out what you love and dislike, mix up your hobbies, and allocate your time to different social groups, interests, and even jobs! Make a note of when you feel most happy, most alive, and follow up on these impulses.

• Talk to Strangers; yes, even momentary supermarket smalltalk can go a long way. Who knows, you might end up best-friends, or lovers? Sally from the bus stop might become your future employer?

• Spend Time in New Places; sometimes we just need a break, that's all, and we can return to our daily routine with a fresh mind set, ready to make proactive anti-flattist changes.

• Read Read Read; gather new opinions and mindsets, look at alternative ways to live your life, seek ideas and career guidance, and collect your own creative kindling from reading fiction.

• Ask For Help; although applicable in all walks of life, this one really goes a long way when you're in a rut. If you don't ask you don't receive, so remember to reach out to that friend you haven't spoke to in a few months.

2. Float Limbo - the other region of Limbo Land, where almost everything is 'up in the air'; it is a place of almost too much spontaneity, a place of confusion and change. People in this area might also feel they have multiple routes, yet don't know which path to take.

For example, habitants of Float Limbo might be in the early stages of a breakup, or may have just quit their job. People in Float Limbo could be moving schools, have plans dependent on exam results, or are perhaps off exploring another country.

Firstly, to be in Float Limbo isn't necessarily a bad thing. Many people thrive in this state, and utilise this feeling of 'dreaded uncertainty', testing their hand at different things, and living from moment to moment. However, Float Limbo, unlike it's neighbouring Flat Limbo, is established on chaos, with its all so many crossroads and questions and opportunities and ideas and fears and changes and doubts and excitements etc. You get the idea.

Float Limbo, much like Flat Limbo, is a region established on transition, and an area of uncertainty- but that doesn't mean it can't be navigated. If you are looking for a way to guide through or out of Float Limbo, then here are some tips:

• Write Everything Down; it's hard to stay afloat with so many things buzzing about your brain. Make lists of tasks to remember, tick them off, set goals, write ideas, and keep a calendar- trust me, life will be much less stressful!

• Create Routine, Even If Difficult; sometimes life is so up in the air that routine is near impossible, but you can always create some structure. For example, you can set an alarm, dedicate 20 minutes of your day to exercise, and/or another part to something like learning a new language.

• Again, Ask for Help; whether they're friends or family, a stranger or your therapist, people are always willing to offer you direction and purpose. All you have to do back is listen.

• If you're happy in Float Limbo, you can stay there; there's no pressure!

Last Thoughts:

The important thing isn't which land you're in, and you might quite possibly be in neither. What;s important is finding where you're most comfortable, whether that be through creating routine, or initiating a change.

As you can see, it's easy to transition between limbo to limbo.