The Awkward In-Between Stage
A playful take on the “in-between” stage of growth—when you’re no longer who you were but not yet who you’re becoming. It’s not broken, it’s just awkward, like middle school for the soul.
Daniel Anderson
8/20/20251 min read
Remember middle school? That delightful phase where your arms grew six inches overnight, your voice cracked at the worst possible times, and nothing you wore ever fit right. You weren’t who you used to be, but you definitely weren’t who you were becoming either.
That’s the in-between. And newsflash: it doesn’t stop after puberty.
A few years back, I felt stuck in a similar in-between—but this time it wasn’t about squeaky voices or bad haircuts. It was about identity. I wasn’t the person I used to be, but I also wasn’t fully living as the man I knew I could be. And honestly? It felt broken.
But here’s the thing. It wasn’t broken at all. It was just… awkward. Like when you’re trying to switch lanes and the blinker’s on but you haven’t moved yet. You’re not lost—you’re just in transition.
And here’s what nobody tells you: shedding old identities isn’t optional. It’s a necessity. At some point, you have to let go of the roles and labels that don’t fit anymore. The “good son.” The “tough guy.” The “reliable one who never complains.” They may have served you once, but if they’re holding you hostage now, it’s time to outgrow them.
So here’s my invitation:
Which roles or labels no longer feel like you?
Who are you when nobody’s watching?
What version of yourself are you ready to start showing up as?
No need to figure it all out today. Just admit where the awkwardness is coming from. Because when you finally stop forcing yourself to stay in old skins, that’s when the new you gets room to breathe.
The in-between isn’t proof something’s wrong. It’s proof you’re evolving. And just like middle school, it won’t last forever.
