From Caterpillar to Creator
Teachings from the butterfly and the gas station
A dear friend recently gave me a small coin etched with a beautiful butterfly, underneath which was the single word: Change.
Of course, what could be more fitting? The butterfly embodies the very essence of transformation — from earthbound caterpillar to winged creature of color and light. Inside the chrysalis, the old dissolves while imaginal discs begin forming the new. There’s no energy in fighting the old. Only the hidden, gooey work of becoming something different.
To further describe that process, on the flip side of the coin, I discovered these words:
It resonated deeply — especially as I’ve been focused on building sustainable change through small, daily practices. Curious about the quote’s origin, I did a little digging to see what ancient philosopher might have said these words. Interestingly, it wasn’t that Socrates, but a humble gas-station attendant named Socrates in Dan Millman’s book (and movie) The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. In that story, this mentor says to the main character, “You have many habits that weaken you. The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
This really spoke to me. Over the past few years, I’ve shifted many routines — some dramatic, some subtle. Letting go of what no longer serves can feel liberating. But it can leave a vacuum where the old wants to rush back in. Rather than fighting that current, it’s been critical to focus on building a new framework to enable my energies to flow in even more beneficial ways.
Like the butterfly, transformation is inevitable in our development. Unlike the butterfly, we have some agency in the design of our wings and our paths of flight based on practicing new habits designed to support what’s most meaningful to us.
So this week, perhaps we can all pause and ask: Is my energy going towards building or fighting?
Here’s to your own unique becoming, one mindful and slightly messy moment at a time.
