Growing, Dying and Relating: Exploring the Concept and Experience of ‘the Edge’

Front page image of thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts in Process Work
Process Work Institute, Portland, Oregon.

Master of Arts Thesis Summary by Hellene Gronda, PhD

Degree Awarded by: Process Work Institute, 2013, Portland OR, United States.
Discipline: Process Oriented Psychology
Download the full thesis (PDF) → Download Hellene Gronda’s MA thesis

Why This Research Matters

This thesis explores the psychological concept of “the edge”—the threshold between what is known and familiar, and what is new, unfamiliar, or threatening to the self. The edge is a central process in personal growth, change, and transformation.

This work matters because learning to recognize and work with our edges helps us grow stronger, more resilient, and more connected. It gives us tools to face challenges creatively—whether in our own lives, in our relationships, or in the communities we care about.

Drawing on theory, case examples, and lived experience, the thesis investigates how people encounter, avoid, or move through edges in their lives.

It highlights the role of edges in:

Personal development – edges mark points of both resistance and potential growth.
Relationships – edges emerge between people, shaping intimacy, conflict, and connection.
Facilitation and therapy – awareness of edges helps practitioners support clients in transformative processes.
Social change – edgework allows us to build new possibilities for human progress, provides access to resources that lie beyond our ordinary known worlds, and discover new paths to engage the great human project: how to live better and flourish with our diversity.

Key insights include:

Edges can be experienced as both barriers and invitations.
The ways we meet our edges are deeply connected to cultural, social, and relational contexts.
Engaging with edges consciously can deepen self-awareness, creativity, and resilience.

This work describes the concept and experience of ‘the edge’ not only as a psychological phenomenon, but also as a relational and existential one—a place where growth, dying (letting go), and new relating continually unfold.

What the Thesis Explores

In this Master’s thesis, I explored something that Arnold Mindell, founder of the psychological modality Processwork, called “the edge.” An edge is that uncomfortable place where we bump into our own limits—the point where we say, “I can’t do that,” or “that’s not me.”

Through research, personal reflection, and examples from psychology, philosophy, and Processwork, I found that:

Edges are not just barriers but gateways to growth.
Moving through them often means letting go of an old identity and stepping into something new.
Our edges are shaped not just by personal history but also by culture, community, and power dynamics.

I showed how edges impact us in many ways: in our personal growth, in our relationships, and in how we navigate change. They can feel like obstacles, but they’re also invitations—openings into new parts of ourselves, new ways of relating to others, and new possibilities for our lives.

How Does This Inform My Work?

Impact Incubator is about helping people make their unique difference in the world.

The edge is that moment when you bump up against your own limit—the part of you that says, “I don’t think I can do this,” or “people like me don’t…” It’s the line between the familiar and the unknown. Edges are where the mystery of change actually happens.

Edges explain why, when and how we get stuck as changemakers and creatives. It is not about lacking ideas or passion—it is about navigating the sacred mystery of an edge. With the right support, our edges can become sources of courage, creativity, and unstoppable momentum.

My research showed me that:

Edges aren’t just obstacles—they are the core of transformation.
Facing an edge can feel like dying to who you’ve been, and it takes courage and support to grow into who you’re becoming.
Edges don’t just live inside us—they are part of how we are entangled with each other and the world, shaping our relationships, our culture, and driving how we seek to change the world.

My Impact Incubator training, strategy and coaching builds on this research into “the edge”—that moment when you feel stuck or scared to move forward.

Impact Incubator offers uniquely transformational edge-informed help to navigate those moments with companionship, strategy, and practical tools. It’s about turning the shaky “I can’t” into a bold, embodied “I can—and I will” by understanding the deeper dynamics and meaning of any block.