The Messy Middle: Stay Grounded Through Life Transitions

If you’ve made a big decision but feel stuck in limbo—this episode is your reality check. That uncomfortable, uncertain “in-between” isn’t failure. It’s the messy middle—and it’s where the real transformation happens.

In this episode of Ditch the Chaos, I’m walking you through how to navigate major life transitions with clarity, momentum, and trust. Whether you’ve left a job, pivoted your business, or just feel like you’re in identity limbo, this episode gives you the reset you need to keep moving forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the messy middle is the most overlooked (and misunderstood) part of change
• The difference between slow decision-making and stuck energy
• How over-planning kills momentum—and what to do instead
• Why letting go of old roles creates space for new opportunities
• The mindset shift that makes uncertainty feel less like a threat and more like growth

These lessons are part of what I teach inside Chaos Detox—because navigating transitions with clarity isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about building systems that flex with your life.

👉 Start Chaos Detox and move through change with confidence.

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CLICK HERE → Trusting the Process: How to Embrace Big Life Transitions

Transcript

# (16) Navigating Life Transitions: How to Thrive in the ‘Messy Middle’

[00:00:00] Nobody tells you how weird it feels to make a big decision, and then wait. You've decided to leave the job, pivot your business, or start over somewhere new. But now you're stuck in the in-between. The part where nothing moves fast and everything feels uncertain. Today we're breaking down what that phase really is, why it's so uncomfortable, and how to trust the process without spiraling.

[00:00:28] Welcome to Ditch the Chaos, A snackable podcast for busy women who are done with burnout, rigid routines and productivity guilt. You'll get clear, actionable strategies to reclaim your time and energy without planners pressure or one size fits all systems. I'm Cara Chace, entrepreneurs since 2015. Mom of two wife to one, and I am unapologetically caffeinated.

[00:00:52] Let's dive in.

[00:00:54] Let's talk about big life transitions, the kind that don't happen in a single moment, [00:01:00] but over months or even years. The decision might feel sudden from the outside, but internally it's been brewing. And once you've finally made the decision, whether it's to quit a job, move cities, or shift your business, you expect momentum, but instead you hit the messy middle.

[00:01:19] This is the part. Nobody prepares you for the phase after deciding, but before arriving, you're no longer where you were, but you're not fully where you're going either. It's the gap, the limbo, and it can be brutal. When I left my career in federal law enforcement, it wasn't a spontaneous choice. It took me three years after knowing deep down that I wanted out.

[00:01:44] Taking on the role of social media manager with Megadeth, that was six months of strategy before I made it happen. Realizing that I had outgrown the Pinterest niche, that one dragged on for a while too. I'm not afraid to make [00:02:00] big life-changing decisions, but I don't make impulsive ones. But once I decide I'm done, I want to be in the next chapter immediately, and that's where it gets uncomfortable because the middle part, it's slow.

[00:02:14] It's uncertain and it forces you to trust something that doesn't have a clear timeline. So what do we do with this in-between season? I'm gonna walk you through what I've learned the hard way and what's helped me. So you can take a deep breath and find some relief. First, you need to know the messy middle isn't a red flag.

[00:02:34] It's not proof that something went wrong. It's the exact space where transformation happens. You're shedding old labels, roles and patterns, and that takes time. Starting over means being a beginner again, and that's hard when you're used to being capable and in control. And here's what I've learned. Big decisions take time, but action needs momentum. Over [00:03:00] planning has kept me stuck longer than I needed to be before deciding to flip the table.

[00:03:05] And if you're someone who analyzes every option to death, this might sound familiar. The one thing that helped me was giving myself a deadline to decide and then focusing on the first, next step instead of the whole staircase. Second, opportunities don't show up when you're clinging to what no longer fits.

[00:03:27] I didn't fully step into what was next until I made space. For example, taking Pinterest services off my site, that was terrifying. But that one move led to women reaching out and asking me to speak on topics. I was way more aligned with. You can't see the new thing clearly until you let go of the old one.

[00:03:48] And third, you will figure it out. I don't care how uncertain the path feels. I know you've done hard things before. You've navigated hard stuff, made, pivots [00:04:00] started over and you made it through. This season is no different. The messy middle requires you to build belief before you have proof to keep going without knowing exactly what's next, and that's uncomfortable, but it's also growth.

[00:04:17] So here's your reset and reclaim action step for the week. Take five minutes and brain dump every next right step that keeps circling in your head, whether it's quitting, pivoting, applying, or letting go. Just pick one, not to finish the whole process and the whole transition just to take one small action step towards it.

[00:04:41] Clarity doesn't come from overthinking. It comes from movement and action. Here's what to take away from this episode. The messy middle is real, and it's not a failure or a misstep. It's where the transformation happens. Deciding is only the first step. [00:05:00] What comes next is trusting yourself to take action without guarantees.

[00:05:05] Remember, over planning can keep you stuck. Holding on too long blocks, new opportunities, and you've already proven that you can figure out hard things if you're older than about 16 years old. If you're stuck in the in-between, you're not alone. This is where that clarity, confidence, and new direction are born.

[00:05:24] But only if you keep moving. If this episode hit home and you're navigating your own messy middle, I wanna hear about it. DM me on Instagram and tell me the one decision you're sitting in right now. No pressure to have it all figured out. Just share with me what's real.

[00:05:40] Sometimes naming it out loud is the next right step. Thanks for listening today. Make sure you're following the show. So the next episode drops a right into your feed and share this with a woman who's in the messy middle and needs a little clarity. You can find more resources and details about Chaos detox@CaraChace.com.[00:06:00] 

[00:06:00] Until next time, I'm Cara Chace reminding you to keep questioning the rules and making your own.