DO YOU KNOW WHAT BUTTERFLIES REPRESENT?

Butterflies are a symbol of resurrection, hope, joy, and new beginnings.  It is a symbol of rebirth and a transformation of change: meaning out with the old and in with the new.  Just like a caterpillar must go through several growth and development before it can become a beautiful butterfly, so must we go through several growth experiences in life before we experience our true purpose and get to a place of inner peace in life.  Like the caterpillar, many people have build a cocoon – a bubble or guard - around themselves (and around their hearts) and have not allowed themselves the opportunity to experience love, new things, and to psychologically grow and develop into the person they truly should be.  Just like it becomes necessary for the caterpillar to burst out of its own chrysalis – or cocoon like- surrounding and become the beautiful butterfly that it was meant to be, so must we break out of our comfort zone in order to become the predestined person that we were meant to become.  Just like butterflies go through a life cycle known as complete metamorphosis, so must we if we want to accomplish more than we ever have in our lives thus far.

Caterpillars face a major challenge as they grow because their skin cannot grow with them.  In order for a caterpillar to grow, develop, and change into the beautiful butterfly that it was ordained to become, it must go through five stages of development before it can emerge into its true being.  Finially, it is ready to emerge and reveal itself - or “pupate”- to the world.  A caterpillar must go through these stages (or obstacles) because its original skin that it was hatched with cannot support the massive growth that is needed for it to become a butterfly.  Because of this, it must make a new, larger skin underneath its outer skin.  Then, when it’s ready, it "sheds" the old skin, and the newer, larger skin underneath is exposed, allowing it more room to grow.  From there, the caterpillar transforms itself into a beautiful adult butterfly. But when the butter emerges from its chrysalis or cocoon, it is still not ready to fly quit yet.  It still has to rely on itself.  It must pump fluids from its own abdomen through the veins in its wings, which causes the wings to expand to their full size allowing it to be able to fly high.

So what can we humans learn from the metamorphosis of the caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly?  Well first of all, we must allow ourselves to engage life to the fullest.  We have to take responsibility for our own adult growth and development and stretch into the person that we want to become.  The moral of the story is this:  Something that was once unattractive – the caterpillar – over time developed itself into something marvelous to the human eye.  So this goes to demonstrate to us that with time, self-improvement, dedication, commitment, and diligence, we too can resurrect ourselves and change or make a major transformation or makeover in our lives. 

So what do you need to put behind you these days?  What do you need to let go of so that you can develop into the beautiful butterfly that you were meant to be?   After going through some things in life – disappointments, hurts, resentments, setbacks, etc., - I know that you are now ready to put it behind you and experience a new beginning.  Remember, the butterfly had to rely on itself; it had to actually pump fluids from its own abdomen to sustain live to its wings – a necessary component for it to fly.   So when you are feeling down, think of a beautiful butterfly and what it had to go through to become what it is now.  

It’s time for you to replenish yourself and take flight today! Start anew: love more, laugh more, and take the time to learn how to develop yourself into what you want to become. 

Your rebirth can start today.  Be Blessed!

Your Success Coach,

Dr. Amy