BUTTERFLY STATE OF LIFE

TO CHANGE IS TO PAIN FOR ALL THE COLORS OF THE WORLD CAN’T BE RELEASED WITHOUT THE RELEASE OF FEAR.

TRACY RICHARDS 1/15/2022

The “Butterfly” one of the most beautiful sights in nature. A majestic display of grace, color, individualism, and growth. The butterfly does not start its life this way. It must go through stages to become its end state. The butterfly goes through a process known as metamorphosis which in Greek means transformation or change in shape. Change is required.

The stages of a Butterfly are the Egg, the Larva (caterpillar), the Pupa (chrysalis), and the Adult. Each stage is necessary for the Butterfly to emerge. The change is essential for its end state. Much like the butterfly we too must go through stages in our life to become at our end state. The major issue we have as humans is accepting the fact that we need change to thrive. Ever heard someone say, “I hate change.” Change make us uncomfortable. It challenges us. It forces us to shift in our professional, personal, and spiritual spaces. Change is seen as a negative when in reality it is the most positive place we can find ourselves.

Most butterflies in their adult state only live 2 weeks on average, however, it takes roughly 28 to 32 days to become a butterfly. The butterfly spends more time becoming an adult than it does living out its adult life. Imagine if you only had two weeks to live once you became what you were meant to be. If we were able to live our lives as the butterfly does and accept the changes in us as magical events that help us to become who we were intended to be, then we would be able to appreciate the beauty in who we are inside and out. We take for granted that we will be here for 80-90 years when in fact only one knows how long we will live in our human state. Live for today as tomorrow is promised to no one is more than just a catchy phrase. I would add accept your change as it helps you to become your own beautiful butterfly.

Another amazing fact about the butterfly is that no two butterflies are exactly alike. Imagine that, of all the butterflies you have seen flying around your gardens and in your fields none of them are exactly alike. Their beauty is unique, one of a kind, unmatched. No two people are exactly alike either, not even twins. There is something that makes us different from our physical traits to our psychological or emotional state of minds. We too are all unique, one of a kind, and unmatched. There is beauty in our differences. The change that we undergo throughout our lives is what brings us to the beautiful butterfly state of life. Without change we are unable to be who we are today and without change we cannot become who we are meant to be tomorrow.

I am sure you have heard of the term “The Butterfly Effect”. This is the idea that small things matter and these small things are connected from those of the past to those of the present to those of the future. It is like the ripple in the pond that grows out from the center. You throw a rock and it makes a ring in the water that expands. With this mindset, there is nothing that is too small in life. Everything has meaning. Every change necessary. Every decision important. This is why change is so overwhelming. The IF THEN train of thought. We all run the different scenarios in our brains. Instead of making the change we believe we need, we find reasons to stay where we are at.

The greatest threat to becoming the Butterfly within each of us is FEAR. Fear is the great derailment of life, the blocker of change, and the suppresser of spiritual growth. Fear is the one emotion that can keep us stuck in the egg, larva, or pupa states of our lives. It is the excuse we use to keep us from the change we need. I would change careers but I am too old to start over. I would go back to school but I don’t have the money. I would learn to play an instrument but I can’t find the time. I should go to church but I have so much to do today. I could write or sing but I am not good enough. I would, I could, I should, and I don’t. What is holding us back from change is fear. Change can be a small thing or a large thing in our lives but what we should understand is that there really are no small or large changes. They are all equal, necessary, and important. There is a beautiful song “Always Changing”, by Fearless Soul that ties this together (link below).

I would invite each and every one of you to not just consider the change you have been holding back on but instead spread your beautiful butterfly wings and take flight into the wind and face the change head on. You know what you need to do. Do not fear the change, embrace it. Become your Butterfly State of Life.

Always Changing (Official Lyric Video) Fearless Soul