How to Capture the Butterfly Moments in Your Life
A butterfly entered my home and stayed for a while… It soon died, and I decided to pay it a tribute. So, I dug out an old blog of mine, that captures exactly how I feel about butterflies and their significance in our lives. Read the full story for more…
I am fascinated by butterflies.
I don’t know where this affinity stems from, but I absolutely love the way they flit around, not being in one place for too long, not living that long too, but still adding their beauty and colour to spaces they touch.
So, a few years ago, when I entered a butterfly garden at a resort, I was awestruck by the number of them that thronged the full-bloomed bushes. The various colours of the flowers were beautifully complemented by the patterned butterflies that wooed them.
With a camera handy, I decided to get one shot of a butterfly completely still. Needless to say, I had to wait a long time for that perfect moment to zoom in and click.
The picture you see above is the result of that patience…and the little photography acumen I have :)
More than anything, the butterfly picture is testimony to the fact that, sometimes, the best moments in life are in fact fleeting ones...
Those that may not be captured, but are still lived with complete joy and awareness. These for me are “butterfly moments” — short but meaningful moments that make life worth living.
Moments that may be few and far between, but succeed in taking us away from the daily drudgery like, meeting deadlines, cooking meals, shopping for groceries shopping, paying the bills — even if only temporarily.
Cycles of drudgery that we can’t escape, but cycles that can definitely gain more meaning if we intersperse them with moments of colour, appreciation and most importantly, value.
Which brings me to another pertinent question — What does the word “value” really mean?
How much of it is dependent on what we have — in terms of wealth, success, achievements, a big home, bigger bank balance, new car, the latest gadgets— and how much of it is really about making the most of what you have?
There are times when I’ve struggled with the question, and then there are times when I’ve answered it with alarming ease.
But, the beauty of this paradox brings me closer and closer to the realisation that “perceived value” is really just that; it’s how much value we wish to give something.
It’s more about feeling rich than being rich…working toward a dream than realising the dream…enjoying the journey than reaching the destination.
And, I’m not devaluing the final outcomes or accomplishments… I’m just emphasising the need to appreciate the process rather than the goal, the living rather than the acquiring, the playing rather than the winning, the doing rather than the result.
Essentially, the ability to enjoy your “butterfly moments” — Moments of realisation when you walk on the street, stumble on something of beauty and wisdom, and then apply it to your life, make it richer and fuller.
Capturing your “butterfly moments” may be a theory for now, but it could well be used to help you derive more value and satisfaction from your everyday experiences. Here’s how…
Have awareness of the present moment
One of the easiest ways of appreciating the life you have, and seeing its endless possibilities is by being present in the ‘now’.
There is no moment like the present one and the more we focus on it. and do justice to it, the more successful we will be in feeling a sense of satisfaction in everything we do.
By keeping all our five senses — and even the sixth one — in complete awareness, we can actually gain more from even mundane activities.
Be alone at times, move away from the chaos
Sometimes being a part of the herd helps, like in the case of cricket matches and rock shows, or candle vigils that support a cause...
But, sometimes stepping back and taking time off for yourself, to contemplate, hone your own talents, or simply disconnect from the madness of the world, can help you bounce back stronger and more focused.
Like the arrow that needs to be pulled back before its shot forth, alone time helps us cope better with worldly expectations.
Don’t equate price with experience
A common misconception is that the more we spend, the happier we will feel. But the value of things drops quickly after we have acquired them. It is actually the process of acquiring that thrills us more...
It’s the challenge of earning and saving that really drives us… and the confidence of having enough money to buy what we want — experiences or objects.
If you too look back, some of the best life experiences you’ve had may not have cost you anything at all… So don’t focus on the money, focus on the experience.
Gain maximum value from what you have
In this age, where newer models of things are coming out every second month, it’s only human to wonder if you should switch to the next best one.
But, ask yourself many questions before you do — Does what you have currently not serve you well enough? Have you gained enough use from it, that you need to discard it and buy a new one? Are you doing it for yourself or are you doing it to fit in with the crowd, and flaunt a new acquisition?
Maximum value comes from maximum use… So, before you let go of anything, ensure you’ve gained enough utility from it.
Live with a sense of purpose
Purpose can mean different things for different people. But the common thread that connects purpose, is the fact that it goes beyond material and social trappings…
It pushes you to live and act with conviction. It’s what makes you wake up in the morning raring to go, and ready to meet the world with a smile. It scares you, but at the same time it gives you an adrenaline high.
Purpose is about adding meaning to your life each and every day. It’s something that will define your life, and make everything else irrelevant…
A life of purpose will make you spot butterflies on the path that you walk.
I now see butterflies almost every day of my life. And, when they hover around me, I feel blessed and fulfilled, ready to see new meaning and possibilities in life once again!
The article was first published on Common Sense Living, a digital publication with new-age lifestyle and wealth-building ideas.
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