A Beautiful Ripple Effect

Life unfolds every moment. There are good moments and bad moments. I am learning that even during these awful, yucky moments we have the ability to experience something beautiful.  I am learning this through practice. Prior to becoming more mindful, bad moments meant dark clouds, tears, and sadness. I only saw black and white. I didn’t realize that there were other options. Of course, sadness is felt; however, it does not have to be the only emotion present. During rough experiences, I felt as if the only direction I could go was down. And so I went down… until my eyes finally opened and the pieces of my life started to make sense. They don’t fit perfectly together and I’m embracing that.

Prior to this shift in my thinking, I couldn’t understand how intense pain could help me grow — it sounded foreign to me. No one I saw as “perfect” did anything sub-par. I desperately needed someone to unveil perfection. Hopefully, I am doing that through this blog as I personally unveil my own perfectionism.

“Now is everything” has become my guidepost in this journey. It was the core lesson I learned while writing Perseverance. The phrase reminds me to be mindful of priorities and to not allow myself to shift into the mindset of, “I’ll do that after I get through this.” Time is not guaranteed — just “now.”

I often read an excerpt from Christine Mason Miller’s book, Ordinary Sparkling Moments, to remind myself of this guidepost and to focus on the process of change rather than just the outcome. It reminds me that the consequences of our efforts may not be immediate — and that’s okay. I hope you’re able to pull your own meaning from Christine’s powerful words.

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Excerpt from Ordinary Sparkling Moments:

The story of a caterpillar going through a difficult, tender process in order to emerge in a more extraordinary form is an apt description of what we experience at different life stages as well as when the earth seems to crumble beneath us. Comparing our own process of change to something as exquisite as a butterfly enables us to focus on the beauty that can be attained within if we are willing to go through our deepest internal mines, no matter how arduous. When a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, it is losing its familiar form in order to become something entirely different, just as periods of loss and metamorphosis alter our own interior landscapes.

Through any period of change, there lies the opportunity to not only rebuild one’s self and environment, but also demolish structures that have become outdated and destructive.

Where a caterpillar curls up into itself and does not re-surface until its entire being is transformed, as human beings with jobs, children and other responsibilities, we must do our morphing in the midst of day-to-day routines. This requires commitment, awareness and a clear sense of our deepest priorities. It requires effort when we might rather turn on the tv; it requires energy when we feel on the verge of collapsing. The work must be done to re-assemble the pieces of ourselves that have been shattered, otherwise we remain fractured individuals – not quite ourselves but not quite someone else either.

Life is nothing more than continuous cycles of transformation and growth. We become caterpillars, we go into the cocoon, we burst through as butterflies, and then we do it all over again. The belief that we are all gorgeous winged creatures waiting to emerge from our own experiences is a lovely one, but it is also important to embrace the cocoon, to cherish the times when we are deep in the act of change and shedding old selves. The in between times- which can sometimes be quiet and still and other times full of rage and ferocity – are where the real lessons are learned and where real change is possible.

The cocoon is where we learn to slay dragons, howl at the moon, and embrace our flaws more tenderly than ever.

The cocoon is where our souls do the work they need to do, where we are safe enough to face the truth with eyes wide open.

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My journey is continually evolving. I love that I have no idea what I will learn about myself tomorrow. I am currently working on my “Feel Good List” created by Julie Green, Up Up Creative. In my next post, I will discuss these incredible lists and what I’ve been learning and reflecting upon during the creation process.

I just started using twitter and am loving it! You can follow me at: clrsimple2.

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As you can tell, I love quotes. What quotes inspire you? Or is there a book or song that has inspired you?