Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world preserves it for eternal life.
John 12: 24-25
A chrysalis has a lot to teach us about our growth.
A caterpillar in a cocoon looks like it is resting, but really a lot of activity is going on inside!
“Inside a chrysalis, a caterpillar‘s body digests itself from the inside out. The same juices it used to digest food as a larva it now uses to break down its own body! The fluid breaks down the old caterpillar body into cells called imaginal cells. Imaginal cells are undifferentiated cells, which means they can become any type of cell. Many of these imaginal cells are used to form the new body.”
Extract from https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-goes-on-inside-a-cocoon
What We Can Learn from Metamorphosis:
- Destroying the Old Me
Just as the caterpillar uses its own digestive juices to break down its own body during metamorphosis, we must realise that we have to destroy our old way of living or thinking before we can move on to a new stage of growth and development.
-> Destroy any way of living or thinking that impedes your growth and development!
- Not Just A Fat Caterpillar
Without the willingness to step out of your old self, you will only be a fat caterpillar, and die as one. What we perceive as our comfort zone will eventually become a death zone.
-> Step out of your death zone!
- Imaginal Cells
Upon breaking down its old body, the caterpillar’s imaginal cells are then used to form the butterfly’s new body. Imaginal cells can form any part of the new body – the antenna, the proboscis, and yes, the butterfly’s beautiful wings!
-> Know that you have the inherent qualities to form a new you.
I hope these 3 points on metamorphosis will enable you to reach your goal in becoming the new you.