Hey, I’m Whit, here to talk about one of the weirdest, often overlooked, and commonly uncomfortable phases of expansion—the void space. You know the one. That strange in-between where nothing quite feels exciting, nothing feels like it fits, and your body and mind are just sort of... waiting.

Maybe you’re integrating a big shift, maybe an upgrade is happening behind the scenes, or maybe life is just rearranging itself in ways you can’t yet see. Whatever the reason, it can feel like being in a holding pattern, floating in a space where nothing is not a thing, but everything still feels like a whole lot of nothing. And for most of us? That’s not exactly a comfortable place to be.

The Urge to Fill the Void

When we find ourselves in this in-between phase, the instinct is often to fill it—with anything. And I mean anything.

Reaching out to an ex you swore you were done with
Saying yes to social plans you normally wouldn’t just to escape the quiet
Scrolling endlessly, filling every pause with noise
Engaging in substances—sometimes even ones you typically use ceremonially or intentionally—but now in a way that feels like grasping
Trying to force the next step, rather than letting it reveal itself

It’s human nature. The void can feel like boredom. It can feel like stagnation. It can even feel like a kind of existential discomfort—because when nothing is immediately lighting us up, we start wondering, Who even am I? What do I do now?

But here’s the thing: The void is not empty. It’s full of possibilities. You just might not be able to see them yet.

The Wisdom of Sitting With the Void

Rather than rushing to fill the void with distractions, there’s another approach—one that might not feel as immediately satisfying, but can be way more powerful in the long run: befriending the void.

What if, instead of trying to escape the stillness, you sat with it? What if, instead of seeing it as an obstacle, you saw it as an opportunity?

This doesn’t mean you have to enjoy it. This doesn’t mean pretending it’s fun. It just means allowing it to be what it is.

Try asking yourself:

What does this space have to teach me?
What comes up when I stop trying to force the next step?
Can I sit in this discomfort and see what’s underneath it?

Sometimes, the void is where our biggest insights emerge. But we have to stop drowning it out long enough to hear them.

Ancient Wisdom on the Void

Many ancient traditions actually honor the void space as sacred.

In Taoism, the wu wei principle teaches the power of non-action—not in the sense of doing nothing, but in allowing life to flow naturally without force. The idea is that sometimes, the best thing we can do is pause, trust, and let the next step unfold on its own.

Similarly, in Indigenous traditions, vision quests often involve solitude and stillness. The purpose? To remove external distractions so one can receive deeper wisdom. The void space in these traditions isn’t seen as nothing—it’s seen as a threshold, a place where transformation brews beneath the surface.

Even in Hindu and Buddhist teachings, the concept of shunyata (emptiness) isn’t about lack—it’s about infinite potential. When we stop clinging to what was and stop grasping for what’s next, we open to something greater.

The Science of Being in the In-Between

Modern science backs this up, too.

Studies on default mode network (DMN) activity in the brain show that when we’re in states of rest, our minds aren’t actually inactive—they’re processing, integrating, and making sense of experiences. This is why some of our biggest “aha” moments happen when we’re not actively thinking—like in the shower or on a walk.

Psychologists have also found that boredom plays a role in creativity. When we’re not constantly filling space with distractions, our brains have the chance to wander, make unexpected connections, and generate new ideas.

A 2019 study published in Academy of Management Discoveries found that individuals who experienced mild boredom before engaging in problem-solving tasks were more creative than those who were engaged in busywork beforehand. In other words—the void makes space for innovation and insight.

Practical Ways to Engage With the Void

So if you’re in a void space right now, and the discomfort is real, here are some ways to engage with it differently:

Practice Stillness Without Expectation
Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and just sit. No agenda. No trying to “figure things out.” Just observe what arises.
Let Movement Be Your Guide
If sitting feels too stagnant, try gentle, intuitive movement. Walk. Stretch. Dance slowly. Move without needing a reason.
Journal the Discomfort
Write about what this in-between space feels like. What emotions come up? What do you instinctively want to do to fill it? Bringing awareness to it can help shift your relationship with it. (I created a journal you can find here)
Use Breathwork or Meditation
Deep belly breaths. Box breathing. A short guided meditation. Sometimes, slowing your nervous system can help reframe the experience of the void. (here’s a playlist of playful breathing videos for ya!)
Engage in Play Without an Agenda
Play a game. Doodle. Make something messy. Let go of productivity and just do something for the sake of doing it.
Remind Yourself: This is Temporary
The void won’t last forever. It feels endless when you’re in it, but it’s just a moment in the bigger picture of your growth. Expansion always follows contraction.

Final Thoughts

The void space is weird. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s easy to want to rush through it. But if we can resist the urge to fill it just for the sake of avoiding discomfort, we might find that it’s not empty at all.

It’s an opening. A threshold. A pause before the next step.

And maybe—just maybe—if we can sit with it long enough, we’ll find that it was never actually a void at all.

Love to you, always. 💛

*I HIGHLY recommend checking out Native and Indigenous sources to do a deeper dive into the topic covered. The very short paragraph included here has the intention to bring awareness to this perspective, but not speak for it. Please check out more in depth information directly from the source!

The Void Space: Navigating the In-Between Without Filling It With Distraction