The 3 Stages of Transformation
Just as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, personal transformation also involves three stages
The Caterpillar Stage
The Caterpillar stage is where most people begin their transformation process. Usually, there is a persistent negative or limiting 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 or limiting thoughts, beliefs, etc. that appear inside or around them on a daily basis. Like the tale about 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 limiting or negative beliefs, emotions, habits, etc. 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 of your unique situation or life-issue, you can then move on to the Chrysalis stage to neutralize your negative circumstances.
The Chrysalis Stage
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.
As I guide you through foundational 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 - even 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 often become the "new normal" for closing the chapter on a negative issue.
But if you want to, you can move beyond this stage and transform your negative beliefs, emotions or situations into positive ones.
The Butterfly Stage
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 advanced Stillness, Reflection and Self-Care techniques, you’ll redefine every situation, however painful, 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.
