Stuck in the in-between? Discover how the messy middle can fuel your leadership growth—and why you don’t have to navigate it alone.
The Messy Middle Isn’t Meant for the Highlight Reel

Let’s be honest: the messy middle doesn’t usually make the highlight reel. It’s the space between “what was” and “what’s next.” A liminal space—murky, stretchy, uncertain. Sometimes lonely. Often exhausting.

And yet—this is the place where we grow the most.

What Is the Messy Middle, Really?

I’ve walked through more than one messy middle in my own life. Some were loud and obvious—career shifts, personal losses, leadership challenges that shook my confidence. Others were quieter but just as disorienting—like when everything looked fine on the outside, but inside I was asking, “Is this it?”

That’s the thing about the messy middle: it doesn’t always announce itself. But it always invites something deeper.

A Liminal Space with Hidden Power

The messy middle is a liminal space—a threshold between identities, roles, or seasons. It’s full of uncertainty, but also rich with possibility. When we’re in it, the default is often survival. Just get through the day, the meeting, the moment.

But what if surviving isn’t the only option?

How Growth Happens in the Middle

What if this middle space is actually an invitation—to thrive in new ways? Thriving in the messy middle doesn’t mean having it all figured out.

It means shifting the question from:

“How do I get through this?” to “What’s trying to grow in me?”

What the Middle Is Teaching You

That reframe unlocks something powerful:

  • What am I learning about myself here?
  • What new muscles am I building—courage, discernment, boundaries?
  • What inspired action is ready to emerge?

When we stop resisting the mess and start listening to what it’s revealing, we find awareness, energy, and direction we didn’t know we had. This is your leadership lab. This is where your next version begins to take shape.

This is the middle of becoming.

Why This Work Matters to Me

This is why I do the work I do.

I created Choose Awe for women leaders navigating these messy middles—women who are smart, capable, and deeply committed, but who also feel stretched thin, conflicted, or like something essential is missing.

Women who are asking: “Is it okay to want more?” Spoiler alert: It is. In fact, it’s necessary.

What Coaching in the Middle Looks Like

Coaching isn’t about “fixing” the mess. It’s about walking with you through it. Helping you reframe it, reconnect to your power, and create a path forward with more:

  • Awareness of what’s really going on
  • Willingness to shift and grow
  • Energy to move forward with clarity

This is the AWE framework in action. It’s not a quick fix. It’s a deeper path.

If you’re in a messy middle right now, I want you to hear this: There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not behind. You’re becoming. And you don’t have to do it alone. Let’s turn this messy middle into your next breakthrough because you are the most worthwhile project you will ever work on.

Ready to Explore Your Own Middle?

💡 Curious where you are in your own messy middle?

Take the Messy Middle Archetype Assessment to uncover your current archetype—and get clarity on what’s calling for your attention right now.

Want to go deeper?

Read the Messy Middle Archetype blog article for a closer look at each type. And if you’re ready to take it further, schedule time with me to explore what’s possible when you start prioritizing yourself again.

Because when you rise, everyone around you rises too. And that’s leadership at its best.