There’s an old story of two caterpillars who spy a butterfly overhead. One quickly turns to the other and says, “You’ll never get me up in one of those things.” Surely at some point, we’ve all experienced resistance to what I call “the better version of ourselves.” The dichotomy of life is that there’s a massive part of us that so desperately wants to fly, to experience freedom and the full expansion of individual expression — however, the flip side of the coin is us wanting to be comfortable in our uncomfortableness. They say that misery loves company, but why would we consciously choose to wallow in misery unless we’re looking for someone to validate our story of the “ain’t it awful” or “poor me” syndrome? I mean, doesn’t it make more sense to become the butterfly, which affords us the ability to move faster and more efficiently with a kaleidoscopic view from a higher vantage point? Most of our issues stem from the subconscious mind, because as a general rule, the majority of us live by default, never stopping to take personal responsibility for what ails us. Eventually, it becomes “imperative to change our narrative” by ultimately leading us to take stock or inventory of who we are and what we believe. This evaluation process of the psyche becomes a prerequisite for the alchemized human to evolve spiritually. A maturation process takes place just like the caterpillar transforming into the cocoon phase. This is a stage where cosmic surgery ushers in a bit of wonder and a whole lot of potential growth. *This is a place where real change takes place, and the evolution of the multidimensional person becomes a reality. This is a place where the unconscious becomes This is a place where old paradigms break down, and one’s truth becomes exposed. And this is a place where a resurrection of our true essence becomes revealed! It’s important to note that putting feet on our prayers is essential for becoming the better version of who we are. This requires taking personal responsibility. Ah, that dreaded word makes the hair on the neck stand up, and yet the marriage between Source and our conscious mind is inevitable. We become pregnant with purpose, and then as a direct result, we can understand the word broken down as “responding to the best of our ability.” The term denotes a heavy obligation, but when analyzed, we realize that “responding to the best of our ability” sounds more like a commitment than a commandment. By seeing it in a new light, we now can show up without an expectation of what others think. After all, the definition of an expectation is nothing more than a premeditated resentment. Along with taking personal responsibility for our growth, we also have to remember that sacrifice is a part of the equation. Imagine, if you would, sitting down in a chair. Originally you were standing, only to find yourself now sitting. We don’t give much thought about our actions, but when we choose to sit, we sacrifice standing. The same goes for when you’re sitting, and “decide” to stand. As human beings, we unconsciously live on autopilot, never thinking about how often we sacrifice who we are, and consequently, we then begin to prostitute our souls for the sake of being liked. Social media can present a perfect example of getting snagged in a world that rarely celebrates the inner aspects of who we indeed are. Anyway, I digress. Now, let’s get back to our journey within. We’ve taken personal responsibility for our growth, acutely aware that sacrifice is an essential factor. But, WHAT are we sacrificing in this part of the process? Well, just like when the cocoon opened for the butterfly to be released, we too must relinquish who we thought we were for something new. I’m reminded of the scripture where we’re told to “be in this world, but not of it.” And another scripture reminds us of the importance of “not putting new wine into old wineskins, but rather put new wine into fresh wineskins.” This raising of consciousness opens the door to the recognition that we’re spiritual beings having a human experience. We are divine because we are made in the image and likeness of God. Yet, who or what is this God? Well, it’s evident that Source is a creator, and since we are made in its image, then it would be safe to say that we are each a pixel on the screen of the collective consciousness. Therefore, it becomes easy to understand that we, too, are creators and can create the world we want to see. Look around, and you’ll quickly see evidence of the fact that we as humans have invented — or created — a diverse world of technology, industry, and communication. And because of this symbiotic relationship with Source, we’ve landed on the moon, built the tallest building, climbed the tallest mountain, and have finally come to understand that “if we can see it in our head, then we can hold it in our hand.” We are one with this loving presence that breathes through us, like us, and can safely assume that the outdated view of an anthropomorphic God can finally be put to rest. So, how do we create or “manna-fest” in conjunction with Source? Think in terms of each of us is an artist with a paintbrush. We “paint” our little slice of the world with our thoughts and especially our feelings. When we ponder the idea that we’re thinking thousands of views every day, we soon realize an inherent power lies within us. We now can pick a new color/thought in our metaphoric palette to begin the process of manifesting our desires. Unfortunately, we’ve become hardwired due to the domestication of societal standards. Don Miguel Ruiz speaks to this in his book, “The Four Agreements”: “At an early age we learn punishment and reward and form an image as perfection to try to be good enough to get the reward.” Our attempts at creating this image, in reality, are almost always carried out in the physical world, without a lot of thought regarding how we can do the work energetically. Now, add prejudices, long-standing beliefs about ourselves based on other people’s opinions, along with religious dogma from mainstream churches, and you soon have a recipe for half- baked reasoning. So, you can easily understand, because of our early programming, why we might find it challenging to comprehend how powerful we indeed are. When we realize that we are each a representation of God in action — a piece of the pie —then just like the butterfly, we are transformed to fly above who we thought we were and experience freedom on a level we never thought possible. What are we waiting for, and why are we holding on to a chrysalis that no longer serves us? When we give up making justifications for limiting beliefs that prevent our potential growth, then we soon realize we’ve always been pregnant with purpose. We were meant to be free!
THE BETTER VERSION OF ME
