Yesterday the twig was brown and bare;
To-day the glint of green is there;
Tomorrow will be leaflets spare;
I know no thing so wondrous fair,
No miracle so strangely rare.
I wonder what will next be there!
~L.H. Bailey
1. A time to grow
2. A time to change
3. Reasons to change
4. Steps to personal Metamorphosis
1) A time to grow
September 1st is officially recognized as the first day of spring in South Africa. To celebrate this season of new beginnings children take bunches of flowers to their teachers, and schools send children with flower bouquets to old age homes to spread the joy.
During the first week of September we also celebrate national arbour week. (“Arbour” is the Latin word for tree) . Trees play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of our communities, and during this week schools, businesses and organizations are encouraged to take part in community greening events to ensure a green future for all of us.
Spring is a time of renewal and growth. From lush green parks to tiny backyard gardens, little creatures feel the warmth of the sun and start their journey to become what they were meant to be. From tiny, tiny little eggs the miracle of metamorphosis turns little tadpoles and nymphs and caterpillars into frogs and grasshoppers and butterflies.
Enjoying early spring in Kirstenbosch Gardens
2) A time to change
In nature this process of change occurs automatically. Embedded in the cells of all creatures going through metamorphosis, is the code which will bring about complete change, leaving behind their old form in exchange for a completely new and different adult form.
When we refer to drastic change in humans, companies or even countries, we often use the word metamorphosis to describe the process of becoming something completely different from what used to be.
Unlike natural change, human metamorphosis is not automatic but takes place as a result of the choices human beings make. Human change take place when the need for change becomes inevitable due to external or internal pressure or, more likely, both.
3) Reasons to change
On a personal level the pressure for change may arise from a crises situation or a health threat such as a heart attack, an ulcer, developing diabetes and many more. However, if the pressure to change ones lifestyle comes from others such as your doctor or even family members, and there is no internal pressure, change might not take place even when there is a very real danger to your live.
Internal pressure is caused by the values we hold about what is important for us. For one person this may be the realisation that the health she used to take for granted, allows her to enjoy life with her loved ones; for another, being able to see his grandchildren grow up may be the source of that internal pressure.
When humans become aligned with what is important for them, it creates the energy through which change (and often miraculous change), may take place. People with a history of dieting and giving up become focused; addictive habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption and other destructive behaviours are changed in order to honour that which is most valuable to them.
4) Steps to personal Metamorphosis
“Any transition serious enough to change your definition of self will require not just small adjustments in your way of living and thinking, but a full on metamorphosis”.
Martha Beck
- To bring about complete change, you need to change your way of thinking. Instead of focusing on what is wrong, focus on what you want.
- Change your attitude. A winning attitude enables you to do what it takes to change your life around instead of making excuses to explain your failures.
- Change your beliefs. Your mind is capable of both success promoting and self-limiting beliefs: you have the power to choose which will rule your life.
- Change your habits. Become aware of disabling habits and replace them one by one with new empowering habits.
- Change your vision. Imagine the outcome of your change and dream big! After all, that magnificent butterfly you see moving gracefully from flower to flower, started out as a crawling caterpillar.