55 Soulful Quotes about the In-Between Stages of Life

Introduction

I’m going to start with a poem written by Nick Wildes called, Embracing the In-Between Stages of Growth. He did not write it specifically for middle-age or senior women, but it certainly applies. Before we get to the quotes, though, let’s talk about what the in-between really looks like.

Think about those times when you were suddenly looking for what was, and you had not yet figured out what was going to be. I call those times the in-between spaces.

For me, one of those moments was when my kids moved out. Suddenly, the role that had shaped so much of my identity was gone, and I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to be next. Another was after both of my parents passed away and I felt like an orphan. I didn’t know how not to be a daughter… and I certainly didn’t know how to be an orphan.

These seasons can be deeply unsettling.
You don’t know where you fit anymore.
You don’t know what your role is now — or what it’s going to be.
You just know that everything feels different.

That’s why this poem stopped me in my tracks. Nick Wildes somehow captured the heart of transition in just a few simple lines — the confusion, the grief, the quiet hope, and the slow becoming that happens when life is shifting.

I want to share it with you before we move into the inspirational quotes about the in-between stages of life — because this season of not-yet and no-longer is where so much transformation actually begins. Mr. Wildes somehow used very few words to describe how I felt during so many in-between spaces of my life.

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Embracing the In-Between Stages of Growth

By Nick Wildes

“The in-between stage can feel unsettling.
You’re no longer who you were,
But you’re not fully who you’re becoming yet.

It’s uncomfortable. Quiet. Sometimes lonely.
And still… it’s sacred.

This season isn’t asking you to rush or prove anything.
It’s asking you to shed what no longer fits and
To trust what’s slowly taking shape inside you.

You may feel uncertain today.
You may miss what was, even if it hurt.

You may question if you’re doing enough
Or moving fast enough.

Nothing is wrong with you.
Growth often feels like standing still
Because it happens inward first.

The in-between is where strength is rebuilt.
Where boundaries are learned.
Where clarity forms without forcing it.
Where you learn to sit with yourself and
Choose yourself without needing permission.

Let go of the pressure to “arrive.”

Trust that every small, honest choice
Is guiding you forward even when
You can’t see the destination yet.

You’re not stuck. You’re not lost.
You are exactly where you’re meant to be.

Trust the process and just keep going!
Stay strong. You got this.
I believe in you.”

What are your thoughts? Have you ever felt this way? Can you relate to the poem or not? Do you have favorite lines in the poem? My favorite line is: Where you learn to sit with yourself and choose yourself without needing permission. It took me lots of in-between spaces to learn this concept, but eventually I did:)

Reflect on the poem and answer the questions. Use the questions as journal prompts, or do free writing about your thoughts. I think most of us have experienced these in-between spaces at some point in life.

Now let’s move on to our quotes about the in-between stages of life and the growth that we experience during these times. Quotes have a unique way of meeting us exactly where we are in the moment. During the in-between stages of life — when everything feels uncertain, emotional, or unfinished — words can offer perspective, comfort, and gentle encouragement.

These quotes will remind us that feeling unsure is not a weakness, but a natural part of growth, and that these in-between seasons are meaningful, even when they don’t feel comfortable. Use them as part of your journaling practice and share them with others who might be in transition, too.

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Embracing the In-Between Spaces

The in-between is not a waiting room — it’s a becoming room. It’s where you’re no longer who you were, but not yet who you’re becoming. For women in midlife, this space is often where old roles fade and new desires begin to whisper.

Embracing the in-between means allowing yourself to pause, reflect, and choose who you want to grow into next — without rushing, apologizing, or shrinking.

1. “It is when we are in transition that we are most completely alive.” – William Bridges

2. “Life doesn’t happen at the start of an adventure. Life doesn’t happen at the end of the journey. Life happens in the ‘in-between’.” – Anonymous

3. “Every season is one of becoming, but not always one of blooming. Be gracious with your ever-evolving self.” – B. Oakman

4. “There is purpose in your season of waiting.” – Megan Smalley 

5. “It is when we are in transition that we are most completely alive.” – William Bridges

6. “Even when you’re exhausted, even when you’re unsure, every step forward is you choosing your future over fear. Keep going—your breakthrough is built on days like this.” — Nick Wildes

7. “Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible.” — Mandy Hale

8. “Those times of transitions are great opportunities to look for recurring patterns in your life and make adjustments to build on the good and reduce the bad.” – Dan Miller

9. “Transitions in life can offer opportunities for discovery.” – Robbie Shell

10. “When shifts and transitions in life shake you to the core, see that as a sign of greatness that’s about to occur.” – Anonymous

11. “Be aware of what season you are in and give yourself the grace to be there.” — Kristen Dalton

12. “Embrace the current season of your life.” — Gabrielle Blair

13. “Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.” — Ann Landers

14. “Be willing to transition at every stage of your life. If your heart is open and you have an open mind, the blessing will flow.” — T. D. Jakes

15. “There is something special about the beauty in the unclear, the ambiguity, the in-between that you can’t totally recognize.” — Alessandro Michele

16. “Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.” – Tom Stoppard

17. “She understood that the hardest times in life to go through were when you were transitioning from one version of yourself to another.” ― Sarah Addison Allen

18. “Any transition is easier if you believe in yourself and your talent.” — Priyanka Chopra

19. “Step back in perspective, open your heart and welcome transition into a new phase of life.” — Linda Rawson

20. “Change is not a threat. It’s an opportunity. Survival is not the goal. Transformative success is.” — Seth Godin

21. “How can you know what you’re capable of if you don’t embrace the unknown?” — Esmeralda Santiago

22. “The moment in between what you once were, and who you are now becoming, is where the dance of life really takes place.” — Barbara De Angelis

23. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” — Maya Angelou

24. “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” — Ecclesiastes

 25. “I don’t know what lies around the bend, but I’m going to believe that the best does.” — Anne of Green Gables

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Life Still Happens in the In-Between

Even when life feels unsettled, it doesn’t stop being meaningful. Joy still shows up. Connections still deepen. Small miracles still happen.

The in-between isn’t a blank chapter — it’s a quiet, powerful part of your story where healing, insight, and courage quietly take root. You don’t have to wait for clarity to start living.

26. “Sometimes, God brings times of transition to create transformation.” – Lynn Cowell

27. Life doesn’t happen at the start of an adventure. Life doesn’t happen at the end of the journey. Life happens in the “in-between.” — Greg Longoria

28. “Change is not a threat, it’s an opportunity. Survival is not the goal, transformative success is.” – Seth Godin

29. “It is when we are in transition that we are most completely alive.” — Natalie Gale

30. “When you are transitioning to a new season of life, the people and situations that no longer fit you will fall away. Don’t fight the process.” —  Pst. Ngozi Okwuosha

31. “To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.” ― Henri Bergson

32. “The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” — Kakuzo Okakura

33. “There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.” — C.S. Lewis

34. “Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes.” — Hugh Prather

35. Realize that if a door is closed, it’s because what was behind it wasn’t meant for you.” — Mandy Hale

36. “She knew this transition was not about becoming someone better, but about finally allowing herself to become who she’d always been.” ― Amy Rubin

37. “We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” — Oprah Winfrey

38. “Transitions are almost always signs of growth, but they can bring feelings of loss. To get somewhere new, we may have to leave somewhere else behind.” — Fred Rogers

39. “In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed.” – Unknown

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In-Between Spaces Can Be Uncomfortable

Growth almost always feels awkward before it feels empowering. The in-between can stir up doubt, grief, fear, and that uneasy feeling of “Who am I now?” But discomfort isn’t a sign you’re failing — it’s proof that you’re outgrowing something that no longer fits. This is where real transformation begins.

40. “You aren’t lost, you’re just in an uncomfortable stage of your life where your old self is gone but your new self isn’t fully born yet.” — LaTesha Carter

41. “Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.” — Eckhart Tolle

42. “No one can tell what goes on in between the person you were and the person you become. No one can chart that blue and lonely section of hell. There are no maps of the change. You just come out the other side. Or you don’t.” — Stephen King

43. “I have accepted fear as part of life – specifically the fear of change… I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back.” –- Erica Jong

44. “Temporary discomfort is an investment in your future self. Accept a small and uncomfortable transition now, for a lifetime of growth and self-development.” ― Florence Given

45. “You aren’t lost, you’re just in an uncomfortable stage of your life where your old self is gone, but your new self isn’t fully born yet. You’re in the midst of transformation.” — Unknown

46. “You may not be where you want to be. But you’re not where you used to be either. That middle space is uncomfortable. But it’s also where growth happens.” — Unknown

47. “What if this in-between phase is so uncomfortable on purpose… because you’re not meant to stay here… that uncomfortable feeling lets you know that you’re still on your way.” — Unknown

48. “It’s the cocoon before the wings. The stretch before the strength. This space is shaping you even if it feels like it’s breaking you.” — MindsetsPower

Quotes about Change during In-Between Seasons

The in-between is where reinvention quietly starts. It’s where you release what no longer serves you and make space for what’s next — even if you don’t yet know what that looks like.

These quotes speak to the courage it takes to keep moving forward when the path isn’t clear, reminding you that every season of becoming matters.

49. “Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past and present are certain to miss the future.” — John F. Kennedy

50. “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” — Andy Rooney

51. “Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next.” — Gilda Radner

52. “Moving doesn’t change who you are. It only changes the view outside your window.” — Rachel Hollis

53. “A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you’re in and take advantage of it.” — Nikki Giovanni

54. “No matter who you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you’ve come from, you can always change, become a better version of yourself.” — Madonna

55. “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” — Alan W. Watts

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Frequently Asked Questions About the In-Between Stages of Life

For those of you who like to scan and feel the article is TL;DR, I hope these FAQs will help you find answers to your inquiries:)

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Final Thoughts: Quotes about the In-Between Stages of Life

The in-between stages of life — those quiet, messy, uncertain spaces between who you were and who you’re becoming — are often where the deepest growth happens. They’re where you begin to hear your own voice more clearly and reconnect with your most authentic self.

The quotes in this collection remind us that even when life feels unsettled, something beautiful is unfolding. These seasons of transition may be uncomfortable, but they are also rich with possibility, insight, and quiet strength.

Uncertainty is part of every reinvention. When fear shows up, it’s usually because we’re focused too far ahead instead of grounded in where we are right now. The in-between invites us to slow down, trust the process, and let life reveal what’s next — one step at a time.

You don’t have to have everything figured out to move forward. Start with what you have. Take the small steps. Let go of what no longer fits. And allow yourself to grow gently into the next version of you.

If these quotes spoke to your heart, you’ll love the Related Articles below — filled with reflections and encouragement for women navigating midlife and the beautiful evolution that comes with it.

• 35 Empowering Quotes About Midlife Growth and Change
• 49 Best Empty Nest Sayings and Quotes for Every Emotion
• 57 Inspirational Quotes for Women in Midlife and Beyond

With light and love,
Susan

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