The Messy Middle of Work

There’s this stage in work that no one really talks about — the middle. Not the exciting beginning, not the shiny peak — just… the middle. And let’s be real, it can get messy.

I mean, how do we even get from point A to point Z? What about everything in between — the B to Y? How do we stay afloat while still learning, growing, and not totally burning out? And how do we stay in control of our own process, instead of feeling like work (or life) is just happening to us?

I don’t have all the answers. And maybe that’s the point. We live in a world that makes us feel like we should have solutions for everything — like if we can’t fix it right now, we’re somehow failing. But maybe there’s value in just asking the questions, in sitting with them, in sharing how we’re navigating the uncertainty — together.

So this isn’t about tying everything up in a neat little bow. It’s about admitting that the middle is messy — and that’s okay.

Context: Giving Meaning to the Mess

Part of why the middle feels so hard is because we don’t always give ourselves space to make sense of what we’re going through — to name it, to see it for what it is. And honestly, a big part of that comes from the social and cultural worlds we live in.

For me, I’m speaking from the lens of a young woman — from the province, middle-class, fresh out of school, and working full-time online for a foreign company — trying to figure out a career path that doesn’t feel pre-written for me. And that matters, because where we’re coming from shapes how we see work and success — and what we think we’re allowed to want.

There’s also this capitalist layer to it — especially for young Filipinos. So much of the job market we enter is dominated by foreign companies hiring Filipinos because we’re “cheaper labor.” And it’s dressed up in these feel-good narratives like, “Filipinos are the best workers!,” and “We want to help them help their families.” And yes — compared to local wages, it’s often better pay — but it’s still cheap labor on a global scale.

We’re caught in this system that expects us to be grateful for being underpaid — while still carrying the pressure to “succeed” and “make something of ourselves.”

And then, there’s the cultural stuff. The Filipino mindset, shaped by a long history of colonization, that tells us to keep our heads down, work hard, be grateful, and follow the path that’s already been laid out. Part of me wants to fight that — to rebel against that expectation — but it’s hard to break away from something that’s been ingrained in us so deeply.

Add to that the expectation to “have it all figured out” right after college. It’s as if graduating comes with the expectation that you should know by now what you want to do, have a five-year plan in place, and follow a clear, linear path to “success.” But real life isn’t like that. It’s not linear. It’s full of detours, doubts, and days when you just don’t know.

And when you decide to stray from the usual path — like I did — there’s this pressure to prove to everyone (and yourself) that you’re not just setting yourself up to fail. That you’re not just being reckless or lost.

So when I talk about the messy middle, I’m not just talking about the internal struggle — I’m also talking about the weight of social, cultural, and economic systems that make this stage harder than it has to be.

Because the middle gets even messier when you feel like you’re swimming against the current of what’s expected of you.

The Takeaway: Let’s Talk About It

It’s okay to be in the middle of the mess. Not having the answers yet doesn’t necessarily make us lost—it just makes us human.

We may not always know the answers, but there’s value in asking the questions, in being honest about not knowing, and in sharing that process with others.

Our context shapes us — where we’re from, what we’ve been through — but we still have the power to choose how those experiences shape who we become.

I guess what I’m really hoping for is that we can start talking more openly about the messy middle. Maybe if we’re honest about where we are, we can make space for real conversations and remind each other that it’s okay to not have everything figured out.

Because maybe the middle gets a little less messy when we stop walking through it alone.

So if you’re in your own messy middle, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you have a story to share or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out. You can also read more stories and reflections on navigating work, uncertainty, and everything in between. Either way, I think there’s something powerful about knowing we’re not alone in figuring things out — and sometimes, just naming where we are is enough.

K.E.

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