The Trapeze of Life: Embracing the Air Between

We all stand on a trapeze. It might be the comfortable familiarity of our current job, the security of a long-held belief, or the well-worn path of our daily routine. This first trapeze feels safe, predictable, and within our grasp. But across the vast, open space, another trapeze swings, beckoning us. It represents a new goal, a desired transformation, a more fulfilling version of ourselves. And to reach it, we must do the unthinkable: let go.

The gap between the two trapezes is the "air." It's the unknown, the terrifying void where we are suspended without immediate support. It's the moment of transition, the phase of growth that feels most vulnerable. This air is where true transformation happens, and ironically, it's the very place we often fear the most.

Think about a trapeze artist. They don't simply teleport from one bar to the next. They launch themselves, soaring through the air, trusting in their momentum and their eventual grip. This leap of faith is not reckless; it's calculated, practiced, and deeply understood.

In our own lives, the "air" can manifest in countless ways:

• Leaving a job to pursue a passion: The financial instability, the uncertainty of success, the whispers of doubt – that's the air.

• Starting a new relationship after a heartbreak: The fear of vulnerability, the memory of past pain, the risk of a new beginning – that's the air.

• Adopting a growth mindset: Challenging deeply ingrained beliefs, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, stepping outside your comfort zone – that's the air.

• Moving to a new city or country: The loss of familiar faces, the struggle to build a new community, the disorientation of the unknown – that's the air.

The initial instinct is to cling to our first trapeze. It's warm, it's known, it offers a sense of control. But clinging too tightly means never experiencing the exhilaration of flight, never reaching the other side, and never truly evolving. The paradox is that to gain something new, we must first be willing to release what we already hold.

Embracing the air means accepting that there will be moments of fear, doubt, and discomfort. It means trusting in your own resilience and the unseen forces that guide you. It's in this suspended state, this moment of pure potential, that we truly discover what we're made of.

Consider the sensation: for a brief, exhilarating moment, the trapeze artist is neither here nor there. They are in motion, in transition, utterly present in the magnificent space between. It's a testament to courage, to the belief that the next grip will be found.

Developing a growth mindset is, in essence, becoming a masterful trapeze artist of life. It’s about understanding that challenges are not walls but opportunities to launch ourselves into the air. It’s about viewing setbacks not as falls, but as moments to adjust our trajectory for the next swing.

So, the next time you find yourself on the precipice of change, staring at that intimidating gap, remember the trapeze. Take a deep breath. Trust your leap. And for a glorious moment, embrace the air. It’s not an empty void; it’s the space where you grow your wings.

©Lisa King, MS, LPC, NCC