This article is about the possibility for ethical growth that comes from living in temporal liminalityâ€"a state of being between past identities and future selvesâ€"and how it can lead to personal transformation.
Let's define what "temporal liminality" means. In this context, "temporal" refers to time, while "liminal" means in-between or transitional. So when you are living in temporal liminality, you exist in a space where your past and future identities meet and interact. This often happens during life-changing events such as moving to a new city, starting a new job, having a child, getting married, or experiencing a traumatic event. These moments can cause you to reflect on who you were before and who you want to be going forward, which creates an opportunity for ethical self-development.
One way that temporal liminality can lead to ethical possibilities is through the process of reflection. When you take the time to consider your past experiences and future aspirations, you may notice patterns, lessons learned, or areas for improvement.
If you have experienced sexual assault, this could inspire you to learn more about consent culture and become an advocate for victims of abuse. If you had a difficult childhood, this might motivate you to seek therapy and heal emotional wounds so that you don't carry them into adulthood. By examining your past and present, you can develop new perspectives on yourself and the world around you, leading to increased awareness and empathy.
Another possibility for ethics in temporal liminality comes from taking action based on these reflections. You may decide to make changes in your daily routine or lifestyle that align with your values and goals.
If you realize that you are overworking and neglecting your relationships, you could set boundaries with colleagues and prioritize spending time with loved ones instead. Or if you identify with harmful beliefs or actions from your upbringing, you could choose to educate yourself and others on how they perpetuate oppression. By using the clarity gained from temporal liminality, you can use your agency to create change within yourself and society as a whole.
Living in temporal liminality opens up many opportunities for personal growth and transformation. By reflecting on our past identities and future selves, we can gain perspective on ourselves and society, and take action towards creating a better world. It requires self-awareness, reflection, and intention, but the benefits are worth the effort.
What ethical possibilities arise from living in temporal liminality — between past identities and future selves?
One possible implication of living in temporal liminality is that it can lead to a shift in one's personal identity and sense of self-worth. This can be particularly challenging for individuals who have strong ties to their past selves and may struggle with the idea of changing or moving on from those identities.