Changing Lives Issue #7

Use the butterfly principles to transform your life.

Photo by Justin DoCanto on Unsplash

Years ago, I wrote a short ebook called The Butterfly Principles: Nine Steps to Transform Your Life. I was inspired by the story of a man who tried to help a butterfly that seemed stuck emerge from its cocoon.

The man used scissors to enlarge the opening so the butterfly could get out easily. Unfortunately, it came out with shriveled wings and could not fly. The process of squeezing its body through a tiny opening is what forces fluid from a butterfly’s body into its wings and makes it capable of flight.

In a similar way, I think humans can only come out of the cocoons we find ourselves in after a period of struggle. We have to emerge slowly and carefully. The quick and easy way rarely leads to transformation.

Using BUTTERFLY as an acronym, I came up with nine steps that can help us transform our lives. The ebook has a chapter for each step with more details and examples, but here are the steps:

1. Begin by identifying which aspect of your life you want to change.

2. Understand that transformation is not easy and you will experience setbacks along the way.

3. Trust that change is always possible.

4. Tell at least one friend or family member about the change you have in mind.

5. Envision what your life will be like when you have made the change.

6. Realistically assess what you will need to do to make the change happen and develop a plan for how and when you will do it.

7. Follow your plan faithfully.

8. Learn from your setbacks and revise your plan as needed to get back on track.

9. You did it! Celebrate and then do whatever is necessary to maintain the change.

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What do you think of these steps? What kind of process do you use when you are trying to change something about your life? Please help others by sharing what works for you!