The Empty Elevator (Best Of)

In this episode, I dive into the concept of the “Empty Elevator,” a metaphor I first came across in Martha Beck’s Steering by Starlight.

Here’s the truth: sometimes our relationships, friendships, and connections reach their natural end. The season has passed, but we cling on out of fear. Fear of being alone, fear of letting someone down, or fear of what comes next.

I share how the elevator metaphor helps us see that in order to welcome new people, opportunities, and connections into our lives, we need to make space by letting others off. That pause in between, the ride to the next floor, can feel lonely, but it’s also the fertile in-between space where growth happens.

I also talk about:

• The difference between “reason, season, and lifetime” relationships.

• Why social media has made clean endings messier (and sometimes more painful).

• How releasing what’s no longer serving you creates space for aligned people to arrive.

• The surprising way old friends can circle back when the timing’s right.

If you’re in the messy middle of shifting friendships or feeling the sting of letting go, this episode is a reminder that you’re just between floors and the doors will open again.

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