How can we realise our full potential? From caterpillar to butterfly

Spiritually, Humans are not too different from their caterpillar counterparts. 

A newly formed caterpillar wriggles round, seeking to understand itself and its environment, feeding on leaves for much-needed energy. 

Similarly, we humans gather knowledge about ourselves through our experiences preparing ourselves for growth.

Where this goes wrong in us humans is that often we don’t learn or take the time to make meaning of  our experiences. 

We instead choose to ignore the signals from our environment and miss the all-important step of self-reflection. 

Take our careers for example. We get feedback from our environment all the time; things like:

“You are not ready for a promotion”

“You might not be cut out for this work”

“You did not meet your targets”

But we ignore them, and plough on through - hoping to someday override the signs.  

We also get feedback from our bodies, things like:

• Increased heart rate

• Poor sleep

• Muscle tension

• Emotional stress

• Poor habits

And again we ignore them, because for some reason we believe we have no other choice but to stay in the job we chose.

But for the caterpillar however – they listen.

The caterpillar follows the signs, so intuitively, that it manages to form a chrysalis around itself, a stage that reflects personal introspection, internal development, and profound change. 

Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis, ultimately transforming into a butterfly. 

Just like the caterpillar, all of us  must go through continuous metamorphosis - 

In order to reach our potential, we must shed several skins, trying new things and following our instincts - a process that leads us to the truest, most aligned, fully expressed version of ourselves.

It’s statistically rare that the career path we landed on first after school is the right one for us forever. We must let go of this idea that we are stuck, and keep growing in accordance with our truth. 

Our full potential is reached when we ditch the “should” statements that impose rigid rules on ourselves and others,  (head-based decision making) and instead lean into our hearts where  our intuition lives - nature's biggest guide. 

Just as no two butterflies share the exact same pattern or colours , similarly, no two humans are made the same. 

We all have a unique set of skills, experiences, personalities and unique paths to our greatest potential.

Instead of trying to erase job changes, dismiss previous experiences you don’t think are relevant, or dull down unique aspects of your personality, learn to fully embrace all of it!! It all counts and all adds up to your unique power. Learning to embrace all of it will make you shine the brightest. 

Take two people:

Person A is a high profile lawyer

Person B is a high profile lawyer, who now part-owns a restaurant and runs retreats on the side.

Which is more interesting to you, Person A or Person B?

Owning our strengths and our weaknesses

Learning to own both our strengths and our weaknesses allows us to spread our wings and fly. 

When we are freed from the shackles of shame and the feeling that we’re “not enough”, we realise no one is good at everything and that we can learn to be unapologetic with our weaknesses - a sign of true self-awareness, self-confidence, and empowerment.

When we fully embody our strengths, they become our power and our confidence, propelling us forward, even when there are challenges. By leaning into our strengths, we are happier, more motivated, more energised, and more mentally tough. 

“When well-being comes from embracing our strengths and virtues, our lives are imbued with authenticity, ” says Martin Seligman, world-renowned Positive Psychologist.

With newfound confidence and abilities, you explore new opportunities, take on new challenges, and make meaningful contributions. You may even begin to achieve goals that once seemed out of reach.

Take my client Bex for example: he came to me full of fear, knowing deep inside she was meant for more but reluctant to make a change. We went through a process of getting to know herself, her strengths and desires all over again, whilst unpacking the fears and limitations that were getting in between her and her true goals.

Fast forward six  months, she is now successfully growing her own soul-aligned business Rebel Black Studio - a purpose-driven business that encompasses every one of her strengths.

As butterflies pollinate flowers, contributing to the ecosystem, you too make a positive impact on those around you by embracing your strengths. By sharing your knowledge, skills, and experiences, you help others grow and succeed, creating a ripple effect of light and positive change.

No one is born a butterfly

We must recognise that no one is born a butterfly – we must become one.

Potential is reached through: 

• Self-awareness

• Self-trust

• Commitment

• Dedication

• Resilience

Taylor Swift wasn’t born a global superstar. It took recognition of her talents, dedication, and a whole lot of resilience to get there (coming from a non-Taylor Swift fan). Nor was Beckham born a pro footballer, or Trump born a.. Well, a convicted felon. 

Like the caterpillar getting to know itself and its environment, we must first figure out our strengths, then take steps forward in alignment with our instincts - a process of trial and error that is ongoing. 

The process of embodying our potential is not an easy one - the closer we come to our truth, our soul-purpose - the more it feels like our hearts are on the line. But just like the caterpillar, humans are meant to evolve - they are meant to live their truth. 

We must move through this process continuously, gaining strength and shining more brightly with each flutter.