12 Days of Christmas
Day 5: Gift of Experiencing Transformation
If you've stuck with me through Days 1-4, you've now got some clarity on what you want, discovered the obstacles holding you back, practiced letting go of what is not serving you, and learned the value of making mistakes! Today, we are going to explore experiencing your own transformation. Transformation is the act of being transformed or simply a change in someone or something. It begins with choices. Making the right choices despite our struggles equals our own transformation.
I was blessed a few years ago because I had the ability to spend an entire month with my oldest son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters, who at that time were 5 months old and two years old. They lived in another state and I didn’t get to see them as much as I would have liked. Additionally, I got to spend time with my middle son who lives in a neighboring city. I was able to keep up with my work with ease and I had more time for writing my blogs and pending workshops.
Since I was going to be with my granddaughters for an extended period of time, I decided to do a butterfly garden project with them. I love butterflies because they are beautiful and the perfect example of transformation.
The butterfly pavilion and 10 caterpillars arrived in two covered plastic cups with all the food they needed to eat and grow. Over the next seven days, they ate and grew. On the eighth day, they climbed to the top of the containers, attached themselves to the lid, and began to form their cocoons. After two days, we removed the lids, transferred the fragile cocoons inside the pavilion, and anxiously awaited the transformation process. A week later, they emerged from their cocoons as beautiful butterflies. My family and I enjoyed the butterflies for a few days, and then set them free in a nearby park. We were advised in the instructions not to help the caterpillars or emerging butterflies at anytime during the process.
The following story and example illustrates how we may leverage our choices and experience our own possible transformation.
There was a kind and lonely woman who loved the outdoors and everything nature had to offer was included in her beautiful landscape. One day while walking through the woods she discovered a cocoon in an old dogwood tree and feeling particularly lonely that day, she decided to take the cocoon home and care for it. She delighted at the prospect of watching the mysterious transformation from cocoon to butterfly. When she arrived home, she gently placed the cocoon in her kitchen window, and watched over it for the next several days.
As expected, early one day the cocoon began to move and the lonely woman quickly became excited with anticipation of the beautiful butterfly she knew would soon emerge. But as she watched, she began to feel sorrow for the struggling butterfly inside the stiff and tightly wound cocoon. After taking all the stress and worry she could endure, she grabbed a small, sharp edged paring knife and rushed to the aid of the struggling creature. She gently and carefully slit the side of the cocoon in hopes the butterfly could then emerge quickly and unharmed. Just one slice was all it should take, and the butterfly would be free and able to fly away.
However, to her shock and total dismay, the butterfly soon emerged only to wilt over the edge of its longtime fuzzy home in a completely motionless lump on the windowsill. The woman was totally distraught and rushed to her computer in hopes of finding a last minute way to save the butterfly. Sadly, she discovered in her research that butterflies have to struggle arduously in order to emerge successfully from their cocoon. The Internet article explained the struggling exercise was the source of the creature’s strength to endure what would come next. They must overcome this seemingly violent struggle to become strong and beautiful. The woman, kind and with the best intentions, interrupted this harsh but vital process.
Transformation is all about the choices we make each day. Our choices and our struggles can eventually transform us into what we want to be. Our task is to remain resolute in the discovery of our own ability to fly and do the hard work necessary to achieve the goals we want.
There is not a formula for stepping out of our personal comfort zone or breaking out of our own cocoon. The following may help determine your transformation readiness.
Can you visualize your life after your transformation?
How will you create space for your transformation?
What resources do you have for support?
What resources do you need for support?
What is one brave step you will make today?
How will you celebrate your success?
Let me know how your transformation goes! I would love to hear from you.
May the gifts of joy, peace and happiness be yours this holiday season.