What About the In Between?

I had one of those weeks. You know the kind—where everything you've been working on falls apart, and you feel like an absolute failure. I was sitting in my office, staring at the remnants of a project that completely flopped despite all my hard work, and I felt that familiar wave of disappointment wash over me.

But instead of spiraling, I stopped. I sat down and reflected on all the other times I've face-planted (sometimes literally) in my life. Like when I tore my ACL on American Ninja Warrior after training for years to get there. Or when I realized my gym wasn't financially sustainable despite the countless late nights I'd put into it.

Each time I thought my world was ending, but each time I got back up—and came back stronger.

That's when I remembered the quote that changed everything for me: "When one door closes, another one opens, but no one talks about the hallway in between." We're all familiar with those hallway moments—when one chapter has ended, but the next hasn't begun. It's dark, uncomfortable, and sometimes downright terrifying (especially for someone like me who needs a nightlight!).

But what if instead of fixating on worst-case scenarios, we asked ourselves: What if it all goes right?

The last time I was stuck in a hallway moment, I started journaling this question daily. What if this failure is actually clearing the way for something better? What if this lesson is exactly what I need for my next breakthrough?

When you're feeling lost in that hallway, try my RIGHT framework:

1. Recognize what you're feeling. Don't push it away—acknowledge your disappointment, frustration, or fear.
2. Identify the shift you need. Ask yourself what small change might help you see this as an opportunity.
3. Generate a game plan. Take one small action step—remember, confidence comes from doing.
4. Hold onto your why. Reconnect with your purpose and core values.
5. Trust the process. Even when you can't see the light, it's still there.

I'm writing this from my own hallway moment right now. I keep seeing 11:11 everywhere, and I'm choosing to believe it's a reminder that the universe is guiding me away from what isn't meant for me and toward what is.

So if you're stuck in your own hallway right now, grab your journal, write "What if it all goes right?" at the top, and list every possibility. The hallway is where growth happens—uncomfortable, messy, and ultimately transformative.

We'll find our way through. We always do.