Catching Butterflies
The source of inspiration for this article, catching butterflies, was another blogger “The Kiwi Millionaire” whom I discovered while surfing the internet. He had posted an article about “How to Catch A Butterfly”.
It was a great analogy about how our dreams and pursuit for happiness are often like catching butterflies in the wild. Elusive and difficult. He went on to explain that instead of trying to catch the butterfly, would it not be easier to build a beautiful garden and have the butterflies come to you? (the original version can be found on his great blog www.thekiwimillionaire.com).
It’s an interesting analogy and one easily understood intuitively, but difficult to intellectualize. Applied to our lives directly, how exactly do you go about creating this “Garden” to achieve / capture your dreams and help you live your best life?
It comes down to the Law of Attraction.
The Law of Attraction states that “people’s thoughts (both conscious and unconscious) dictate the reality of our lives, whether or not they’re aware of it. Essentially “if you really want something and truly believe it’s possible, you will get it”, but putting a lot of attention and thought onto something you don’t want means you’ll probably get that too”. (wikipedia.com)
This means that to achieve your dream (or catch your butterfly in this analogy) and be happy, you need to truly want to create and live the life of your dreams, your Ultimate Lifestyle, and you need to believe that it is possible. Obviously, this easier said than done because the majority of us are so conditioned with many limiting beliefs and thoughts that even though we do want to break free of the traditional 9 to 5 world, deep down we do not truly believe it is possible, or that we do not deserve it, and sometimes we are even scared to believe that it is possible because we fear the concept of “failing” and the shame of “not achieving” our dream.
So this “Garden” is really your state of mind and you need to be the gardener! If you really want to create and live the life of your dreams, your best life, you need have a healthy, vibrant, peaceful, loving and positive state of mind, free of negative and limiting beliefs / thoughts, and from this powerful state of mind you can visualize what you want – catching butterflies!
Once you develop this ideal state of mind you have the potential for being a magnet for great events to happen in your life and catching butterflies, but what happens if your surroundings are equivalent to toxic waste dumps? Do you think the butterflies will still come then? Maybe, but they would be reluctant and it certainly does not encourage those butterflies to come! The same in real life. Be careful of where you are and who you surround yourself with. Positivity breeds positivity, and like-wise, negativity breeds negativity. Couple your healthy state of mind with surrounding yourself with positive, happy, supportive people who have positive, healthy, vibrant states of minds themselves. This will supercharge your ability to attract amazing things and events into your life.
Success, happiness and your Ultimate Lifestyle are yours waiting to be created and lived!
What is your view on this? Share your thoughts and experiences below in the comments section.
If you are interested in Free Life Coaching, then please feel free to contact me, I will be delighted to support and encourage you to follow your heart and start to live your best life now.
If you enjoyed this article, then please consider sponsoring me with a donation. Thank you!
“The purpose of the life is to experience and be happy”
Welcome back. Thanks for visiting!
Interesting. II used to think it was as simple as that …ask, believe and receive. Don’t get me wrong … I’m all about positive thinking and how to move forward in my life in a positive and meaningful way. I’ve read the books…”The Secret” etc. and after thinking about what they had to say, I’m left with the thought that we we may not get what we want. Sometimes we get what we need. Sometimes we don’t get it at all. Why? Because there are lessons we all need to learn on this earth. These books are great in terms of positive visualization, however they are only scratching the surface … there’s more to it than that and unfortunately I believe some people think it’s very simple but it’s not.
It’s like saying okay everyone on the planet, put your orders in and I’ll fill them. (I’ll being God or whatever you want to label it) What would happen if we all had the same order? What would happen to the world? How would it go on?
What or who is putting in the orders I wonder … our Ego or our Soul? And if our soul is a part of God, then perhaps we may just get what we want because that’s what we are a part of isn’t it? We are a part of “The “Spirit”, or “God” or “The Universe”. I’d like a bird’s eye view on how it all works! lol
Just some thoughts ….I’m still searching.
Vicki
Hi Vicki
Thanks for your comments!
Of course, there is more to the Law of Attraction than that – if only life was that simple! But it’s a damn good start to have a healthy garden! Even if the butterfly’s don’t come, for whatever reason, that garden is going to grow fruit and you will reap the rewards of your efforts!
I agree with you completely – it’s not a simple process. Have you ever tried meditating and NOT having any thoughts for just five minutes?? Surprisingly extremely difficult. I’ve been meditating for years and still find it challenging to sit in meditation. The entire process of growing a garden, developing a peaceful mind is to become fully aware of our thoughts and start the process of pulling out all those nasty weeds and laying the foundation for some healthy, beautiful trees and plants to prosper. It’s a long, challenging process – it’s called Self Development! If you can stick at it, and your determined, and you believe, then only good things will come your way.
There are billions of people on this earth – all with their own story, their own cultures, their own problems and dreams. I don’t think everyone “putting in the same order” is going to be a problem. But when it comes down to it – ultimately, I believe, what everyone wants is just to be happy. And why couldn’t everyone have that? Would that equivalent of Heaven on Earth?
I can’t help but feel some pessimism. Even after reading those enlightening, powerful books – you still doubt the process and results. Perhaps there are some limiting beliefs and destructive thought patterns you are harboring as well?? Of course, it’s healthy to be skeptical and not take everything at face value – so I commend you for thinking for yourself. But I do encourage you to nvestigate this phenomena for yourself – grow your own garden, put your mind to peace, and see what fruits grow there!
All the best to you and thanks again for being my first commenter!!
It is heartwarming to read your blog (as you might have already heard), once an avid reader of pretty much anything, I have been a “skipper” for a while; yet I read every single word you wrote.
The analogy of the garden brings a “photographic” feeling to the “law of attraction”, which I know forever will stay in my mind as opposed to the generalized perception of it that I always had.
I was relieved to read your last words, it brought a sudden answer to the question I always asked myself (can one actually build a beautiful garden in the middle of a toxic field?)
Where I live is no easy place to be, while I know I have to be stronger and achieve my dreams regardless of all odds, it is still a major challenge to set a garden while your neighbors favorite pastime is burning down the butterflies making their way to you.
Keep on dreaming but with an open heart to welcome the beautiful outcome you invited all along and worked hard to achieve, but shield your surrounding from all the butterfly eaters!
Great job on your blog!
Hello Sari
Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m honored to have you read my blog from so far away but I’m confused about where exactly you live… Israel? the West Bank? Jerusalem? US? It wasn’t clear to me… regardless, I can only imagine the hurdles you encounter.
Be strong and keep believing! If you ever feel like you need someone to pick you back up when times are tough, please feel free to get in contact with me again – I’d love to help you however I can.
Good luck!