It was just another day; Until it wasn't. Nestled in the darkness, the butterfly felt the spring sun and knew it was time. The cacoon, wrapped up by the feeling of winter, started to shake.
In this case, you are the butterfly. The cacoon is protecting the old you.
The oneness we have with nature means we intuitively sync with the seasons. The outward portrayal of seasons helps our internal environment shift and align.
We all have certain connations with spring. For some, spring means allergies, for others they get geeked out with March madness and are glued to college basketball. For me, I think back to spring football, spring break, and my asthma.
My asthma would always act up this time of year and I’d always have my red and white inhaler with me. The tightness in my chest would feel heavy. I’d discretely go into the bathroom, hide in the stall, and take a puff.
Even though my asthma would act up, spring was always my favorite season. (Summer comes in a close second.) Not just because April is my birthday month, but because of the bloom, the rebirth, and the colors that accompany springtime.
Like the butterfly trapped in the cacoon, winter can feel heavy. Sometimes that heaviness is necessary because it allows you to contemplate and slow down. The winter rhythm becomes the new normal and it’s tough to leave the comforts of the cacoon. But there comes a point in time when the “old you” no longer serves the “present you.” and it’s time to say Hasta la vista.
There is a certain shedding that takes place. It’s letting go of who you were, in order to become who you want to become. (This could happen at a micro level or a macro)
That process of letting go can happen through a couple of strategies. (Writing, visualization, mediation, prayer, movement, time in nature) The list is endless. When I let something go- I like to use fire because the physical burn allows me to see it vanish.
When letting something go, be intentional.
Something I reminded my yoga class yesterday, is that an intention is just focused energy. Get clear so you can be intentional. Get intentional so you can be clear.
Here are some examples and things I have let go of.
I let go of My fomo. Finding joy and contentness with where I am.
I let go of complaining.
I let go of being a people pleaser.
These things just brought me down and were no longer serving me. Once you let go of what you don’t want, you can burst out of the cacoon and fly towards what you do want.
In Recap:
Spring is here. Take advantage of it (mentally and spiritually)
Let things go. (physically and in your internal environment)
Step into a new you. That could require some flying :)
thanks for reading.
be well,
Fletch