I first came across the concept of liminal spaces when I was doing my Narrative Coach training with Dr David Drake. He talks about liminal spaces and thresholds between stages in his coaching model. These are “in between” spaces in which the client has the opportunity to make a choice to move into a new reality.
In Gray’s book, the concept of liminal thinking is about the ability to think across the thresholds of different beliefs. He defines it as “the art of creating change by understanding, shaping, and reframing beliefs”. It’s a kind of “psychological agility that enables you to navigate times of transition”.
The first part of the book explains how beliefs shape everything we perceive and think, and why people cling to their beliefs, even when they are incomplete, obsolete or invalid. He introduces six principles of beliefs:
1. Beliefs are imperfect models for navigating a complex, multidimensional, unknowable reality.
2. Beliefs are created hierarchically, based on selected facts and personal, subjective experiences.
3. Beliefs create a shared world so we can live, work and do things together.
4. Beliefs create blind spots.
5. Beliefs defend themselves.
6. Beliefs are tied to identity.
Part two of the book provides nine practices that you can use to minimise reality distortion, envision possibilities, and create positive change. These are:
1. Assume you are not objective.
2. Empty your cup.
3. Create safe space.
4. Triangulate and validate.
5. Ask questions, make connections.
6. Disrupt routines.
7. Act as if in the here and now.
8. Make sense with stories.
9. Evolve yourself.
The book includes lots of exercises to help you practice the skills of liminal thinking, and many of these are useful to use with coaching clients.
My favourite quote from the book: “There are thresholds, doors of opportunity, around you, all the time. Most of them are invisible to you, because you are focusing on other things. But they are there, they are real, and they offer incredible potential for growth and change.”
I highly recommend this book. It’s full of terrific content, easy to read, and opportunities to think differently!
