Meditation Butterfly uses a simple 3-stage process to move anyone from negativity into a joy-based way of living:
Stage #1
Mindset: NEGATIVE
Key Skill: AWARENESS
The Caterpillar stage is where most people begin their transformation process. Usually, there is a persistent negative thought, belief, emotion or situation that’s affecting their ability to enjoy life. If left unchecked, these negative “caterpillars” can slowly eat away at your happiness or peace of mind.
The most important skill to cultivate in the Caterpillar stage is AWARENESS. Simply put, most people are unaware of the negative thoughts, beliefs, etc. that appear inside or around them on a daily basis. Like a frog in a slowly heated pot of water, negativity becomes the environment that we tolerate and ignore until the temperature is too extreme to bear.
This is why it’s important to become aware of any negative beliefs, emotions, habits or speech as soon as they occur. By becoming immediately aware of negativity (within yourself or around you), you can begin to create distance and detachment between yourself and the source of negativity.
Once you’re good at real-time awareness, you can then move on to the Chrysalis stage to neutralize your negative circumstances.
Stage #2
Mindset: NEUTRAL
Key Skill: STILLNESS
Before a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it must first “Go Neutral” by isolating itself from the world in a cocoon and allowing all of its former self to melt away. This intermediate step, called the Chrysalis stage, is a great analogy of how you can move from negative beliefs, emotions or situations into a better state of being.
Other coaching methods try to immediately move you from Negative to Positive without paying attention to the critical, middle step of Neutral. Meditation Butterfly is different. We emphasize the importance of Going Neutral and accepting the truth of your situation – both wanted and unwanted, before attempting further progress.
The key skill to cultivate in this stage is STILLNESS. Through meditation, reflection and mindfulness-based activities, you’ll discover how your negative emotions, beliefs, etc. can be redefined into neutral, fact-based truths about yourself and the world around you. By facing and accepting these truths in a neutral way, you’ll gain balance and contentment while in the midst of negativity.
Many issues, such as difficult relationships or feelings of doubt, can be resolved by engaging the situation in a neutral, balanced way. The Chrysalis stage can then become the new normal for closing the chapter on a specific issue. But if you decide to, you can move beyond this stage and transform your negative beliefs, emotions or situations into positive ones.
Stage #3
Mindset: POSITIVE
Key Skill: GROWTH
Being able to face negativity in a neutral, balanced way is great. However, if you really want to “fly”, then the Butterfly stage is for you..! The key skill in this stage is GROWTH. You’ll amplify the skills of the previous stages to envision bold, new ways to engage life.
You’ll learn how to extract meaning and purpose from every roadblock, setback or personal tragedy. Like the mother who turned her daughter’s death into a worldwide cause (Candace Lightner of M.A.D.D. – Mothers Against Drunk Driving) or the person who started a billion-dollar business after being fired from his dream job (Walt Disney), you’ll cultivate the mindset of seeing every situation as a unique invitation for growth and success.
Through meditation and mindfulness techniques, you’ll redefine every situation into experiences that serve you and help you grow. Eventually, you’ll see the world as your garden with every flower as a source of nourishment that’s fully open to you.