Massive Change

A monarch butterfly egg is the size of a pinhead and the caterpillar that hatches from this tiny egg isn’t much bigger. But, they emerging larva grows up to two inches long in about two weeks - 100 times its original size!! Ten days later they transform from their tiny eyes, stubby legs, short antennae, caterpillar selves into long-legged, long-antenna, compound-eyed, flying, beautifully, colored butterflies. That is a massive amount of change in a relatively short amount of time!

It is easy to resist massive change. Most humans don’t like change. We want to know how things are going to look. We want things to be where we left them. We have trouble changing jobs, changing our thinking, changing our habits and behaviors. Change involves doing things that are unnatural and uncomfortable. Change can be exciting, but change (especially the internal kind) is also hard.

In order to live an extraordinary life, we must be willing to change . . . change ourselves on the inside (thinking and beliefs), and sometimes even the outside (behaviors).

Note: If you do not want to become more of who you were designed to be, then you don’t need to change. But, be warned: Avoiding change and growth will lead to deterioration (becoming less of who you were designed to be). We are either growing or dying, there is no middle ground or maintenance when it comes to our being.

I think that sometimes we are like little, freshly hatched caterpillars. We sit around, the same as always, and watch others who are transformed into beautiful, colorful, flying butterflies. We feel sorry for ourselves, jealous, resentful, and even find people or circumstances to blame for why we are still in our tiny caterpillar state. The reality is that we are unwilling to do the work necessary to become a butterfly. We are unteachable, uncoachable, and unwilling to put ourselves in the vulnerable position that leads to awareness and growth.

A desire to avoid being vulnerable is one of the biggest deterrents to personal growth and change. Example: Weight loss Imagine that I am carrying an extra 25 pounds. I want to be healthy, fit, energetic, and to feel great about my body. I really, really want this! I see others who possess all of these qualities and I wish I could be and feel like they do. It looks so easy for all of them. "If only it were that easy for me." (whine, whine, whine) There are a number of things to do and steps to take in order to become healthy; however, the first one is to be vulnerable. I must admit to myself and someone else (I think a health coach is the very best choice) where I currently am. I may need to step on the scale and tell my coach what my weight is or measure my waist and admit what that number is. To the degree that I am willing to step out of my comfort zone and be vulnerable, I will change. If I jump in with both feet - determining to play full-out - I will experience massive change in a short amount of time.

I will realize one day that I am not the same person that I was. I will be different on the outside AND on the inside. If I stay committed to the unglamorous process of a growing caterpillar and a seemingly silent chrysalis then I will emerge as a beautiful, colorful, transformed butterfly.

Is there an area in your life where you would benefit from a massive change? What is a step of vulnerability that you will make in order to begin the transformation process?

Be Extraordinary!

My name is Traci, and I love sharing insights that challenge and encourage people to be the best version of themselves. Click HERE to receive updates from Be Extraordinary!