The Space Between Knowing and Doing
You’ve read the book, taken the course, sat through the workshop. You know what to do. So why isn’t it happening yet?
That gap between knowing and doing, the frustrating in-between where your brain understands a new way of being, but your actions haven’t quite caught up, is a completely normal part of the learning process. It’s not failure. It’s not proof that you can’t change. It’s actually your brain rewiring itself.
The Science of the In-Between
When we learn something new, our brain begins to form neural pathways. But just like a muscle, those pathways need repetition to become strong. In the early stages, we might default to old habits because those connections are still more ingrained. This is why change can feel clunky, slow, or even impossible at times.
The Discomfort of Growth
This space between knowing and doing is often uncomfortable. You’re aware of the old pattern, but you haven’t yet mastered the new one. It can feel like a personal shortcoming, but it’s really just part of the evolution process. If you’re in this phase, it’s actually a sign of progress—you’re in the middle of change, not stuck.
How to Support Yourself in the Process
🔹 Give yourself grace. If it were instant, we’d all be effortlessly evolved humans by now.
🔹 Practice small shifts. Instead of waiting for a full transformation, celebrate micro-moments of change.
🔹 Stay with the discomfort. Instead of seeing the in-between as a problem, recognize it as proof that change is happening.
🔹 Get support. A coach, mentor, or community can help reinforce the new patterns until they stick. Listen to podcasts that give insight into how others navigate discomfort and come out the other side…wink, wink.
This is why my Where to Begin membership for organizations exists - to help people navigate this exact space, where the gap between knowing and doing can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Because the truth is, the neural connections will catch up. The new way of being will become second nature. And one day, what once felt impossible will be just what you do now.
Are you in that in-between space? What helps you stay the course? Let’s talk. ⬇️