What is “Butterpillar Soup?”

 

Nature provides us with many analogies that are relevant to our personal growth journeys.  Everyone is familiar with the amazing metamorphosis that occurs when a land-bound, leaf-eating caterpillar transforms into a beautiful, nectar-sipping butterfly that is capable of flight.

 

What I didn’t know until recently is that while inside the cocoon, the caterpillar literally dissolves into a soup of protein that then reorganizes itself into the new form of the butterfly.

 

Personal development can sometimes feel like this transformation as you move away from old thought patterns, rules, and ways of doing things and into a new life and new you.

 

My friend and fellow entrepreneur, Tiffany Kane coined the term, “Butterpillar Soup” to describe this in between phase when you are letting go of the old and ushering in a new, improved version of the life you’d like to lead.

 

It Can Be Uncomfortable in “The Soup”

 

Since neither caterpillars nor butterflies can speak, it’s hard to say how the transformation feels for them.  However, I can tell you from my personal experience that these transformations, particularly if significant, can often be uncomfortable.

 

Ironically, this uncomfortable feeling can sometimes really kick in just when you’re starting to experience success with the new rules of the game you’ve established for yourself.  I vividly remember a weekend that Dave experienced this just as his financial planning business, Rowan Financial started to take off.  On the surface everything was wonderful, but it took Dave a period of several months to step into this new phase of playing a bigger game as an entrepreneur.

 

Some Changes are Fast, Some are Slow

 

People are like caterpillars in that there is also no standard time to be in the cocoon.  Many butterflies emerge from their cocoons in 5-10 days.  However, if temperatures are colder and daylight is limited, some can spend 6-8 months in the chrysalis.  And biologists have recorded some species of moths can spend over a year inside a cocoon when necessary!

 

You too may need to spend more or less time in “The Soup” depending on the significance of the change and also your willingness to embrace the change for what it is rather than trying to truck along in a “business as usual” state while undergoing a significant transformation.

 

For small changes, sometimes you’ll just be able to simply “jump off the leaf” and be flying before you hit the ground.  However, if your personal development requires you to shift some deeply held beliefs and mindsets it can take several months of mental processing to fully embrace and be comfortable moving forward in your new, bigger and better life.

 

Build Your “Cocoon”

 

If you have been taking action and making genuine progress on your goals, you may at some point sense a feeling of discomfort and unease as you let go of the old you.  That’s OK!  If it’s a big change, rather than trying to force your way through and “jump off the leaf” you can build your own cocoon by:

 

Being Patient

 

The butterfly does not emerge from her cocoon until the change is complete and she’s ready to fly.  Give yourself all the time you need to embrace the new life you want to live.

 

Being Quiet

 

The caterpillar does not expect to go about her same old daily routine of crawling around, eating leaves and doing whatever else caterpillars do.  Instead, she shuts everything down, builds the chrysalis and waits things out.

 

You do not need to resort to extreme measures, but it may be a time to unplug from portions of your normal routine to give yourself time to sort things out.  This may include:

 

• Cutting back on your “self-improvement” reading and instead reading just for fun. (I’ll completely understand if you don’t open my newsletters for a while!)
• Scaling back on your social calendar to focus more on the family and friends who are supportive of the new life you’re creating for yourself.
• Making more time for self-care in whatever form works for you including meditating, spending time in nature, exercising, or splurging on a spa day.

 

Being Kind

 

As I mentioned above, we can’t talk to caterpillars so we really don’t know what’s going on in their minds when they’re inside the cocoon.

 

However, I’m guessing that the soon-to-be-butterfly is not thinking she’s somehow defective or flawed for needing to be in the cocoon, nor is she berating herself for either taking too long or not being able to crawl around and eat leaves like she used to.

 

Take this same mindset with yourself as you’re stepping into the new you and the new life you are creating for yourself.  Be at least as kind and supportive of yourself as you would be toward a friend who was embracing a personal development goal and seeking positive changes in her life.

 

Your Assignment

 

This is one of those topics where no immediate action may be required.  Simply make a mental note of this thought process and toolset as you continue taking action toward your personal goals.

 

Seek out opportunities to “jump off the leaf” and make effortless change when you can.  However, when a change has you afraid, resistant, or uncomfortable take the time to spin your personal cocoon and be patient, be quiet, and be kind for as long as you need until you can spread your wings and fly forward into your Custom Built Life™!