Three Minute Leadership: Lesson from the Butterfly

To: The Great Leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning

Recently, I came across a simple story that provides great leaders a deeper understanding of the wonderful value that struggle provides in enriching their life’s journey.

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Author Unknown

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 19th century French writer, in his book, The Little Prince, wrote: “Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.” Struggle is a learning ground that strengthens and enables positive growth. In its abrasive honing, the mind, body and spirit are sharpened to a dazzling brilliance enabling us to see in its lessons new possibilities for renewal and growth. Let no one ever say of you: ”He was never be able to fly.” Embrace and take joy in life’s lessons that your wings will be magnificent and beautiful, and take you to the heights to which you are born, and be more than you ever dreamed you could be.

Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!

Mike

• ← Three Minute Leadership: Thoughts for a Magnificent and Wondrous Journey
• January Stillman Student of the Month →