Growth Is Messy: Lessons from the Cocoon
Growth and Transformation
I was recently at the Butterfly Gardens in Victoria, BC and was reminded of the lifecycle of the beautiful butterfly. From caterpillar, to the chrysalis, to emerging as a full on butterfly, this process is very reminiscent of recent growth cycles for my personally.
The Caterpillar Stage: Living in Comfort Zones
The caterpillar can be seen as a symbol of comfort, routine, and steady progress. We all start in our comfort zone. Sometimes we get stuck here for years without realizing it, in different areas or phases of life.
The caterpillar can also be reflected as the part of us who is hiding, staying small, blending in (to leaves 🌿), and generally not making much of an impression on the world.
It may also be the beginning of your growth or transformational journey. The start of self reflection, realizing you want more, that you deserve more, but the phase where you’re not quite ready how to start. You’re comfortable, but this comfort zone is starting to feel stagnant.
The Chrysalis: The Uncomfortable Middle
The cocoon or chrysalis — the in between time. A time of transformation. Of growth, challenge, discomfort. A period of ‘doing the work’ to support the change you are working towards.
The ‘messy middle’. For us, this can look like discovering and reprogramming beliefs that no longer serve us, leaving our comfort zone and challenging ourselves, looking at relationships in our lives and deciding if they are helping us grow, or holding us back. A time to break down and reform. A metamorphosis!
Emerging as the Butterfly: Breaking Free
And finally, that juicy stage we’re all looking forward to, emerging as our beautiful butterfly selves. The version of ourselves we always wanted to be, or knew we could become. We’re at a new level of embodiment, beauty, potential. From my journal:
“Feel like a caterpillar going into chrysalis, ready to emerge as the fullest, most vibrant, beautiful, confident, embodied self I was always meant to be!”
We may need time to re-adjust, get accustomed to our wings, try on this new version of ourselves. Try things on for size. Show our new selves to the world.
This is our ‘next level’, our ‘level up’. This may be in your internal mindset, your career, relationships, physical body, or any other area of life.
The Cyclical Nature of Growth
And we can think of this whole process as cyclical. We may go through this process many times, and in many different areas of our lives. We may have set backs, we may have periods of stagnation, or periods of big transformation, and the wheel goes round and round.
Embrace the phase you’re in, in every area of life. What are the areas that you’re in the caterpillar stage, the chrysalis, or which ones are ready to emerge as butterflies?
It’s ok if you’re not feeling your biggest, best butterfly self in every area. It’s all a process! And the beauty is in the process and the perseverance, and the growth that comes from the courage to make change.
So, “Where in your life do you feel you’re stuck in the caterpillar stage?” 🐛 What changes and shifts can you make to move into your chrysalis, ready for a huge metamorphosis? 🦋
Here’s to growth, transformation, and spreading your wings,
Katee Maaö ✨
