There are seasons in life for sowing. The hustle, the grind, the pushing, the planning and the achieving. There are other seasons for reaping, the ease, abundance, flow. There are also those in between times, where we feel stuck, unsure which direction to go. These are all a part of the ebb and flow of life.
In a world so fixated on goal attainment and achievement it is easy to get caught up in ‘what’s next’ or ‘getting more’. We are often taught to focus on our output, and to simply ‘keep going’ when we are facing a challenge.
Drawing on the pillars of positive psychology, challenge and difficulty are incredible opportunities for growth and learning, but not in the linear way we may consider. Allowing the self to slow down, recalibrate and recenter can provide us with the space and grace to prepare to move forward in a helpful and sustainable way.
I often use the caterpillar to butterfly analogy with clients. A lot of times when people feel stuck, stagnant, confused, frustrated etc… they are describing that period of growth where change is desired, but not a lot of output is seen. I remind them of the pupa (or cocoon). When a caterpillar is first starting out it grows rapidly, it’s easy to see change day to day. Then it builds it’s pupa where it goes into a period of perceived stillness. To the outside world it is completely still. Internally, the greatest transformation is occurring. Old body parts break down, skin is shed and wings, legs and eyes grow. Only when it is ready, does it emerge, completely transformed. What if we are changing all the time, even if we cannot see it
As written on Tiny Buddha blog, sometimes a period of transition and uncertainty IS the change we need in our life. To learn to tolerate those periods in between. To learn to see the power in pausing. It is there, if we choose to find it.
So for those reading this today feeling stuck, stagnant or like they aren’t moving forward. Can you get curious about what this state of in between can be teaching you? What could you learn about not knowing what comes next? The discomfort of transition? There is something we can learn in almost everything, we just have to find it.
Until next time… keep wondering
Jen