The Liminal Space of New Year Resolutions
January is coming to a close. Some of us have set goals at the beginning of the year, but for most of us these resolutions have already started to slip.
In the first few days of January, we make lists of what we want to change in our lives, we are full of intangible willpower and optimism. We want a clean slate, a hard reset, a break from whatever was before. But here's what I've noticed in years of coaching people through change: the ones who actually transform aren't those who demand immediate rupture. They're the ones who take the time to walk across the bridge between what was and what's becoming.
That bridge is what I call a liminal space. It’s a place that does not want to rush, it’s a space of transformation.It’s not a problem to solve.
What is the Goal of Liminal Space?
When you learn to pause and not push, you get access to more clarity.
For example, you start to notice the difference between what you think you should want (the resolution inherited from culture, family, old versions of yourself) and what you actually want (the intention alive in you right now).
A Practical Framework: Intentions Over Resolutions
Resolutions are about fixing something, and usual extrinsic motivations. They're built on lack: "I'm not disciplined/fit/organized enough." They're future-focused, driven by pressure or guilt, and require constant willpower.
Intentions are about aligning something, they are intrinsic motivations. They're built on what matters to YOU at this point in time: "Here's what I care about, and how I want to live that." They're present-focused and naturally motivated.
Instead of "What do I need to change?" or "What do I need to fix?" ask yourself:
What's actually alive in me right now?
What matters more to me in 2026 than in 2025?
What is my overarching intention for how I want to spend my year?
When you answer those questions, you are creating intentions and wanting to embody your own personal philosophy.
What If Your 2026 Is About Revelation, Not Resolution?
So here's my invitation for you right now, standing in this liminal space at the end of January:
What if you didn't push yourself toward a resolution? What if you started with a question instead? Not "What do I need to fix?" but "What does this threshold I'm in want to reveal to me?"
Maybe your threshold is a career transition that's been brewing. Maybe it's a shift in what matters to you, maybe it’s wanting a more creative life. Maybe it's permission to finally say no to something that's been draining you.
The liminal space isn't meant to be rushed through. It's meant to be inhabited. It's the place where you get to consciously choose what you're becoming next—not what you think you should become, but what's actually calling to you.
Your Liminal Space Reflection Prompt"What if your 2026 isn't about resolution—it's about revelation? Use this guided journal prompt to explore your actual intentions and the threshold you're standing in."
Ready to Explore Your Threshold?
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to clarify your 2026 intentions and discover what your liminal space is asking of you.
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