This must be the season for purging as spring is right around the corner. People have been sharing what they are going through with either health problems or emotional concerns that are weighting them down. So the question I ask is, are we being cocooned for some big shift that we need to make in order for the next stage of our life to show up?With the little signs of spring starting to show up it assures me that spring it is around the corner, new growth will be happening. How great to know that when we go through this purging, new exciting ways of experiencing life may be a byproduct!

I am aware of a story of the metamorphosis of a butterfly. There once was a little boy who was fascinated with a caterpillar building a cocoon. He watched it daily waiting for the butterfly to emerge. One day he saw the tiny butterfly struggling to come out. He was concerned it was struggling so much that he decided to help. As he took some scissors, he snipped the cocoon to make the hole bigger so the butterfly could emerge. As the butterfly came out it had a small swollen body and shriveled wings. The butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around, dragging its shriveled body and never able to fly. What the little boy learned is the struggling in the cocoon enables it to transform into a butterfly.

So we can ask ourselves are we tired of struggling? Maybe the struggle has brought us to a full healing so the new beautiful butterfly can emerge. Maybe you’re being prepared for a new career path, building a renewed vision for the second half of your life, greater health and vitality, a ministry, or starting a new relationship. I know these times can be so vital, as we are being prepared for something bigger in our life.

Applying these tips can help you navigate through your time of cocooning:

1) Adopt an attitude of gratefulness and pray that you can trust God to weave a higher purpose in your life through this time. I know I have been challenged to see that whatever I am experiencing is for my good and growth. Keep persevering and allow light to still shine forth in the midst of feeling like we are somewhat stagnant.

2)Celebrate the little victories along the way. Maybe you are practicing better self-care in the midst of the struggle to get your health back. Or maybe the message you are getting during this time will be what your next career path or venture is.

3) Stay out of the past doldrums. Sometimes we live with a past consciousness rather than a present. If we stay in the past, we don’t have much energy to put toward the present or future. We may let the past color our current path and keep us blocked from believing in possibilities.

4) Build a support system… Today we are so active with our cell phones and computer technology that we forget the importance of connection. Design your own support group or find one…there are a multitude of groups out there.

Persevere in the present and hope toward the future!