The Missing Bit in the Middle: Why the Messy Parts Matter
Butterflies are a beautiful little creature. And have you ever thought about how they become butterflies, though? We all know they start out as caterpillars. We know they go into a chrysalis, and in that chrysalis is a transformation. Then they come out as a butterfly. But what really happens in the middle? Is it just a nice little sleeping time, or is it really messy in there?
I think it could be quite messy and that’s exactly what life can be like.
Life is never all butterflies and floating around, being terribly easy-going and fluttering around in the windows. We all know the different stages we go through. There are times when we feel like that caterpillar crawling around on the leaf, not really able to go far, hiding from the birds, just trying to grow and get to the stage where we can become the butterfly we know we can be.
But what happens to get to the butterfly?
These days, with Facebook, Instagram, and all the highlight reels, we see the butterflies, the people who seem to have made it. The flash car, the flash house, the great holiday, the business that’s thriving. And we think, wow, they’ve really done well. But did we see them as a caterpillar? Did we see the messy middle?
Most of the time, we don’t.
Inside that chrysalis, something incredible is happening. The caterpillar is being reshaped, reformed, rebuilt into something completely different. It’s messy. It’s hidden. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s essential.
And life is the same. Sometimes we need to be willing to go through that messy bit, the part where things feel hard, out of place, unseen, unknown, so we can develop into something bigger and better.
Storms come. Challenges hit. Comfort zones tempt us to stay small. But if you want to go further, sometimes you need to push harder. You need to push past the things that bug you, push past the hard times, hide yourself away for a season, do the work, do the development, and put yourself in a position where you come out stronger.
And when people finally see you, they see the butterfly, not the messy middle that made you.
But don’t forget that middle. Don’t forget the hard. Even butterflies get whisked around by the wind. Even butterflies face birds. Even butterflies have to choose their direction.
If you’ve ever tried anything new, you know it takes work. Golf, swimming, business, relationships, anything worth doing requires effort, practice, and often, coaching. Because without help, we tend to revert back to what we’ve always done.
Coaching is about helping you take what you’re learning and actually put it into practice. It’s about helping you work through the messy middle so you can get to the place you want to be. It’s about clarity, direction, purpose, personality, communication, joy, energy, all the things that help you become your best.
The old proverb says: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.
That’s what coaching is. It’s going far, together.
So, if you’re feeling stuck, searching for direction, or wanting a clearer sense of what’s next, whether you’re exploring practical next steps or seeking God’s leading, I’m here for a genuine, no-pressure conversation.
Let’s work through the messy middle so you can spread your wings and fly where you want to go.
Reach out anytime. I look forward to catching you soon.
