Do you think the caterpillar knows it is going to be a butterfly? Do you think it knows how hard it is to shed its skin and change into a chrysalis? Does it know it has to fly thousands of miles all the way to Mexico? Does it know how many friends and foes it will meet along the way? Does it know about all the challenges it will have to face? Do you think it is ever afraid, scared of the unknown?
Do you sometimes feel like a caterpillar? Do you have a dream of what you might be someday? Do you ever want to be quiet and just be inside yourself? Do you want to fly? Do you want to make our beautiful world a better place? Do you want to make your dreams come true?
There is a wonderful story about a caterpillar dreaming of becoming a butterfly that comes from Africa, a place of many beautiful butterflies.
Two caterpillars in West Africa were wandering through the tall grass looking for their favorite leaves when a beautiful butterfly fluttered overhead. One caterpillar was amazed and in awe of the beautiful flying creature, while the other said that not for all the money in the world would it ever fly into the air like that. It was far too frightening. It felt that it belonged on the ground, safe and secure, with plenty of food, and that was where it was going to stay. The first caterpillar felt something stir in its heart when it saw the butterfly. It had an inner feeling that crawling on the ground was not its true nature. One day it would be up there, too, flying with the birds and butterflies.
After some time of crawling and eating and eating and wishing and hoping, the first caterpillar changed into a chrysalis and became very quiet, undergoing profound changes. It finally emerged a beautiful butterfly with strong wings and many bright colors, as the caterpillar had dreamed all its life. But the other one stayed as it was, a caterpillar, crawling and eating leaves for the rest of its life because it never dared to dream or to know the meaning of its inner nature; it held onto what was familiar, what felt safe. It had no idea of its true self.
Only those who know their own true selves can soar like butterflies. It is not easy discovering our own true selves. It is not easy making our dreams come true. It is a challenge. We have to keep trying even though it’s difficult. We have to never give up. Then one day, we too, can find our wings, learn our true nature, and fly like a butterfly.