Becoming Butterfly: Embracing the Process of Change

There is a butterfly in all of us, we just have to be willing to go through the pain of change.

Ignorance Has No Wings.

“The truth is that everyone can fly. But before we do so we must accept the rules that govern gravity and aerodynamics. If not, sadly those who attempt flying will crash and burn.” 

There is a story that I read about back in high school, about a preacher called Bedward who proclaimed one Sunday in church, that he would prove the power of faith by flying. The following Sunday Bedward gathered his church folk and had them spectate this miracle that his God was about to perform through him. So with no further hesitation, he climbed to the very top of the highest tree in the town, and then without any fear or wincing, launched himself into the open air with the bright blue blanket of the sky, serving as his backdrop. A few amazing seconds later, the poor but fearless church leader, crashed fatally to the ground in full awe of his followers, skeptics and those who just gathered for entertainment.

Bedward did not fail to fly, he instead failed to understand that humans fly a little bit differently. The truth is that everyone can fly. But before we do we must accept the rules that govern gravity and aerodynamics. If not, sadly those who attempt flying will crash and burn. Nature makes no exceptions for ignorance. 

Poor Little Caterpillar 

“While you wait on your wings, you are learning to be vigilant, resourceful, resilient and wise. It's all a process, one that will teach you much needed wisdom to prepare you for your wings."

We all yearn to fly in some way or another, as we chase after our dreams or after anything we think will make us successful in life. But unfortunately, many times failure sets in on this journey. Very few of us will keep pressing forward toward the mark, while many others drag on and slouch behind, taking on a "poor little caterpillar" mentality. Reading a book such as Atomic Habits by James Clear can help you to implement some habits to improve the trajectory of your thinking and life.

It's a fact that there are fewer successful people who accomplish their dreams, than there are people who do. This is so, because many dream-seekers learned to embrace their state of caterpillar, realizing that ignoring the rules of the universe and trying to fly before they are ready will result in failure. They know this because they have tried several times, only to fail and had to return to the caterpillar state and go through the process of change. 

But being a caterpillar is not all that bad. While we await our metamorphosis to kick in, we can appreciate who we are in the process. A caterpillar though weird-looking and fragile, is a spectacular creature. It has twelve eyes which it uses to be fully aware of its environment- its predators and resources. It has 4,000 muscles in its small soft body which is amazing when you compare that to a human being who has 650 muscles. Life at the bottom of the food chain can be tough, so caterpillars employ all kinds of strategies to avoid becoming a bird snack. Take for instance, the Spicebush Swallowtails. They display large eyespots to deter birds from eating them. If you've ever tried to take a caterpillar from its host plant only to have it fall to the ground, you've observed it using thanatosis to thwart your efforts to collect it. So being a caterpillar isn't all that bad. While you wait on your wings, you are learning to be vigilant, resourceful, resilient and wise. It's all a process, one that will teach you much needed wisdom to prepare you for your wings.

So, Are You Ready For Your Wings?

“To become a butterfly metamorphosis is necessary. If the caterpillar never gone through this great experience of change, it would have never reached its great destiny of being its glorious self. "

The truth is, the caterpillar was a butterfly all along and so are you. We all were born with wings waiting for the right time to emerge.

The butterfly is truly a beautiful and graceful creature but we all know he didn't start out that way. Yes, I said "he", because not all butterflies are girls (contrary to what many of us might believe). In fact, some of the most beautiful things we have come to value and treasure, similarly to the caterpillar, have gone through extremely harsh processes to become a success story, for example, diamonds, pearls, precious gems, and gold. It's all a part of the process of success- going through the heat, the pain, the metamorphosis.

If we view ourselves on our journey in life as a caterpillar, we might find a bit more peace. Many of us desire to fly, to achieve success, but fail to understand the laws that govern flying, such individuals are most likely to crash to the ground like our dear friend Bedward. In our caterpillar state many of us operate in denial or disregard the process- the stages of metamorphosis which will unfortunately work against us ever getting our wings and taking flight.

But in the words of Alvin Day renown motivational speaker, "If caterpillars can fly so can I." This not-so-attractive and squishy little creature was born to fly, but for him, it comes naturally. The truth is, the caterpillar was a butterfly all along and so are you. We all were born with wings waiting for the right time to emerge.

The butterfly is truly a beautiful and graceful creature but we all know he didn't start out that way. Yes, I said "he", because not all butterflies are girls (contrary to what many of us might believe). In fact, some of the most beautiful things we have come to value and treasure, similarly to the caterpillar, have gone through extremely harsh processes to become a success story, for example, diamonds, pearls, precious gems, and gold. It's all a part of the process of success- going through the heat, the pain, the metamorphosis.

If we view ourselves on our journey in life as a caterpillar, we might find a bit more peace. Many of us desire to fly, to achieve success, but fail to understand the laws that govern flying, such persons are most likely to crash to the ground like our dear friend Bedward. In our caterpillar state many of us operate in denial or disregard the process- the stages of metamorphosis which will unfortunately work against us ever getting our wings and taking flight.But in the words of Alvin Day renown motivational speaker and author "If caterpillars can fly so can I." I was gifted this book 17 years ago and it changed my life forever.

This not-so-attractive and squishy little creature was born to fly, but for him, it comes naturally. Though his wings are unseen, they are there somewhere inside of him, just waiting for the right time to emerge. He does not need others to give him wings, all he has to do is wait. The only difference between humans and caterpillars is that flying for us has to be a choice. The caterpillar has no other choice but to become a butterfly because that's his destiny. But as for you, you have free will to choose yours. While you wait caterpillar, try to be patient; be appreciative of the process; trust in God, put in consistent hard work, believe in yourself; be kind to others along the way, and in time your wings will also appear, and you will take flight.

As the quote says "To become a butterfly metamorphosis is necessary. If the caterpillar never went through this great experience of change, it would have never reached its great destiny of being its glorious self."

Let's continue to heal. Shalom!-- Dr. Nickie Ann

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