Lessons from the Monarch: Transformation, Process, and Trust

Lessons from the Monarch: Transformation, Process, and Trust

This afternoon, I stood outside in back of Barbi’s parents’ house, watching a Monarch butterfly dance among the flowers. At first, I thought it might land on me. Instead, it hovered close, circling and returning again and again, as if inviting me into its world.

It’s impossible to watch a Monarch without thinking about the transformation it’s been through—the humble caterpillar, the silent chrysalis, and the miraculous emergence into something entirely new. That journey is a reminder that what we see is not the end of the story. The process is still unfolding, and even the hard or uncertain moments can work together for good.

As the butterfly floated from flower to flower, other butterflies joined in, each unique but moving with the same effortless grace. It reminded me that whether you’re standing in a garden, on a pitcher’s mound, in a bowling lane, or at the plate in a batter’s box, there comes a moment when one chapter closes and another begins. The key is to stay in the process—fully present—rather than becoming attached to the outcome.

In mental performance, everything flows from your roots: your belief systems, your self-talk, your daily actions. Those shape your character, and your character shapes your destiny. When your mindset is grounded in the truth that “all things are working together for good,” you perform from a place of freedom. But when your mind is in conflict—believing everything is working against you—you tighten up, lose your edge, and performance suffers.

Letting go is the secret. When you can release the need to control everything, you open the door to your best performance. But here’s the paradox: you can’t truly give up control until you’ve mastered it. First, set your intention. Control your body and your mind. Build the plan. And then—let it go. Move into trust.

That’s where transformation happens—whether you’re chasing a dream in sports, business, or life. Like the butterfly, we are meant to move lightly, with focus and freedom, knowing that the process itself is where the real beauty takes place.