Trusting the Process

The transformation of a butterfly is one of nature's most magical events, and it begins with what could be seen as a moment of complete surrender. When it's time to change, the caterpillar doesn't simply sprout wings. Instead, it weaves itself into a cocoon—a sanctuary where it begins one of the most radical transformations in nature.

Inside this cocoon, the caterpillar doesn’t just rest; it completely deconstructs itself, turning into a sort of primordial soup. The caterpillar literally dissolves, its old form vanishing into a goo that holds the promise of new life. This goo is a potent mixture brimming with potential. Within it lie something called imaginal discs, cells that have been with the caterpillar since the beginning that hold the blueprint of the butterfly. These discs, like magic spells waiting to be spoken, begin the incredible process of crafting wings, eyes, legs, and antennae. This stage of re-creation—where everything the caterpillar was transforms into what it will become—is nothing short of miraculous.

Now, I don’t claim to know the inner workings of a caterpillar’s mind, but I can imagine the caterpillar doesn’t criticize itself for needing to retreat into the cocoon, nor does it rush this essential phase. Instead, it instinctively understands that this time of dissolution is crucial for its emergence as a butterfly. It embraces this phase fully, knowing that without it, there can be no transformation.

This gentle acceptance of its life cycle is a powerful lesson for me. It reminds me that there are seasons for everything. We can’t always be in a phase of visibility and brilliance, just as the caterpillar can't always be in the stage of flight. There are times when we need to be like the caterpillar, times to be in the cocoon, allowing ourselves to dissolve, transform. These periods aren’t about loss or lack—they are about preparing and paving the way for our next chapter of growth.

Just like the caterpillar, let’s embrace these quieter, introspective times. They are not just natural; they are necessary for us to evolve and emerge stronger, more beautiful, and more capable than before. Ben's words, "Keeping yourself small serves no one," resonate deeply here. It’s not about staying small—it's about the timing of our expansion, knowing when to draw inward and when to spread our wings. In honoring our own cycles of transformation, we prepare to soar, just as the butterfly does, with vibrant colors that were once hidden, now brilliantly on display to the world.

Jennifer Nolan
Co-Founder of Breathing Space