Intensity

Whoa! Life is too much right now. Transformative energy and the intensity of things occurring in my life are tossing me around. 

Change Brings Intensity

Change is a constant and permeates our existence. It brings new elements into our lives and we respond proactively or reactively. Some changes are thrust upon us and others are of our own choosing. Change often upsets the balance of our lives. It comes with an intensity that shakes us. Perhaps the intensity of change is necessary to rearrange the elements of our lives.

Change can be many things – pleasant, exhilarating, joyful, adventurous, painful, upsetting, destabilizing, dramatic and concerning. It disturbs our routines and safe spaces. Our minds can go into overdrive with anxiety and resistance, causing us not to see what is happening clearly and creating more upheaval. Change can also be welcome, coming at our own behest or rearranging our lives in a pleasant way.

The intensity of change unsettles us. That is its purpose – to rearrange our lives, whether welcome or not. Whatever its nature, change brings growth. Change stimulates us and stretches our abilities and skills to cope with it. We avoid change at our peril. Ultimately, resistance is futile and wears us down so that we are less able to cope with the change. Change can’t be avoided, so we best rise to it.

In The Cocoon

Let’s look together at the intensity of change in the cocoon as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. I open my book Chrysalis with an insightful quote from Maya Angelou: “ We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

The caterpillar is living in an ordinary world, an insect on the ground, going about its life. It is feeding and growing. As it grows, it sheds its skin four or more times in order to enclose its rapidly growing body. Then, the caterpillar makes a button of silk, which it uses to fasten its body to a leaf or twig. The caterpillar’s skin comes off for the final time. Under this skin is a hard skin called Chrysalis. It is a time of hiding and protection and dormancy. The caterpillar is within the cocoon, not able to move about in the hard, protective coating.

In the cocoon, most of the caterpillar’s body breaks down, with the help of imaginal cells, initiating biochemical processes that transform the deconstructed caterpillar into a butterfly. Growth and differentiation occur, and structure is born. Then, the Cocoon opens. When the butterfly comes out, its wings are damp and soft and folded against its body. The butterfly is tired and it rests. Once the butterfly rests, it is ready to start flying. It begins to pump blood into its wings to get them working and flapping. It is transformed.

Making It Through Change

Here are some thoughts on making it through the intensity of change:

• If change is a constant in life, best to accept and prepare for its presence.
• Examine our reactions to change. Are they effective? Healthy? Destructive? Futile?
• Practice self-compassion.
• Stay present to change.
• Embrace what change is bringing and make the most of it.