When the Old You No Longer Fits, But the New You Isn’t Clear Yet:

Lessons from Costa Rica’s Sacred Liminal Space

There’s a moment that still lingers in my soul.

It was the afternoon of our first day at the retreat in Costa Rica. We had just completed our opening workshop, and the jungle was alive with the soft hum of cicadas and the warmth of the sun. The morning had opened something in all of us, and now it was time to rest, reflect, and allow it to settle.

I found myself floating in the pool beside one of the women. The water gently cradled us as we drifted, unhurried, surrounded by the lush green canopy. She began to share pieces of her story—quietly, calmly, almost matter-of-fact. Horrific things that had happened in her childhood and young adulthood. The kind of things most people carry alone.

But in that moment, she wasn’t alone.

There was a stillness to her, a peace that came not from bypassing the pain, but from having survived it. From owning it. From beginning to understand that her voice and story mattered. She spoke of how she might begin to express it—perhaps through writing, or painting, or both. The clarity that was bubbling up in her was soft, yet powerful. It was as if something inside her had been waiting for this sacred pause, this safe space, to emerge.

It was deeply inspiring. One of those moments you know is changing someone’s life—and touching your own in the process.

The Power of Liminal Space

There’s a term that perfectly captures this moment in life: liminal space. It comes from the Latin word limen, meaning “threshold.” It’s that mysterious in-between—the place where the old version of you no longer fits, but the new version hasn’t quite taken shape.

And in midlife, this is often where we find ourselves.

The roles we once poured ourselves into—mother, partner, caregiver, achiever—begin to dissolve. The ambitions that once lit us up may no longer satisfy. But the new dream, the new way of being, hasn’t fully revealed itself.

It’s disorienting. Tender. Sometimes frustrating.

But it’s also sacred.

At our retreat in Costa Rica, I watched as each woman stepped into her own liminal space. Some came to heal their bodies, others to find clarity in their purpose or deepen their spiritual practice. Some just knew something was off and followed the pull without fully knowing why.

No matter the reason, they all came seeking something more. And what they discovered was this: these longings weren’t separate. They were all part of remembering the truth of who they are.

Witnessing the Transformation

It didn’t take long for the masks to come off.

Each woman was at a different stage in her inner growth journey—some just beginning, others deep in their process. But the space we created—loving, nonjudgmental, spiritually grounded—allowed them to go deep, quickly.

And what emerged was incredible.

We watched as women released long-held burdens, rewrote old stories, and began to reclaim parts of themselves they had forgotten. You could actually see the change in their energy—their faces softening, their posture lightening, their eyes shining brighter.

By the end of the week, they looked not just rejuvenated—but radiant.

And the connections? Pure sisterhood. They laughed, cried, danced, supported one another through breakdowns and breakthroughs. By the final day, it felt like they had known each other for lifetimes. Maybe they had.

Why We Created the Sisterhood—and the Mentorship

Experiences like this retreat are unforgettable. But as beautiful as they are, I know something else to be true: transformation doesn’t stop at the retreat. That’s where it starts.

When a woman reconnects with her truth, when she lets go of old stories and glimpses the woman she’s becoming—it’s like her soul exhales for the first time in years. But then… she goes home. And life comes rushing back in. The roles. The expectations. The habits. Without a supportive space to stay anchored in her becoming, it’s easy to drift back into the old patterns.

That’s why I’ve created two powerful spaces to support that unfolding—one with my retreat co-host and soul sister, Sharon Cohen, and one that draws on my decades of experience guiding women through this sacred stage of life.

Sharon and I created the Radiant Sisterhood Community because we’ve seen how essential it is for women to have a space where they can stay connected to themselves and each other—especially after a profound experience like a retreat. We’ve both walked through our own deep transitions—grief, awakening, reinvention—and we know how easy it is to feel alone in the in-between. And how transformative it is to be seen, heard, and held.

This sisterhood isn’t a one-time gathering—it’s a rhythm. A sanctuary. A place to keep coming back to your truth, again and again.

And it’s why I also created the Midlife Metamorphosis Mentorship—a sacred, personalized journey for women navigating major life transitions. Whether you’re processing a loss, redefining your career, or simply feeling called to something deeper, this mentorship offers the structure, guidance, and soul-centered support to help you reimagine your next chapter from the inside out.

Because transformation isn’t something we do once and move on from. It’s something we live into, moment by moment.

If You’re Standing at the Threshold…

If you’re in that space where the old no longer fits and the new isn’t fully clear… I want you to know you’re not alone.

You’re not broken. You’re becoming.

And you don’t have to navigate this sacred threshold by yourself.

Whether through the mentorship or the sisterhood, I invite you to join us—to walk this path with other brave, brilliant women who are also choosing to rise.

Because the woman you’re becoming?
She’s already inside you.
She’s ready to be remembered.

💗 Learn more about the Radiant Sisterhood Community

🌺 Explore the Midlife Metamorphosis Mentorship

With love and deep sisterhood,
Lianne

P.S. If this message resonates with where you are right now, trust that tug in your heart. Whether through sisterhood or mentorship, you’re not meant to walk this alone. 💗