Mariposa, drifting through the wind, couldn’t wait to grow wings so that your life could begin.
Found it hard to come out of your shell, but that’s a secret you’d never tell.
Mariposa, with the colors of fiery embers, went searching for warmth this September.
All grown-up, with so much to live up to, suffered silently, while nobody else knew.
Mariposa, why do you cry? withstood wounds, yet still you could fly.
Though you held on for as long as you could, you endured more than anyone should.
Mariposa, breathe deep and close your eyes. You gained a new kind of wings, so in the place you left is where your memory lies.
Once just an adolescent, now your spirit shines iridescent.
Mariposa, your metamorphosis was remarkable for all to witness, it’s a tragic tale, your story had to end in sickness.
~~~ Much like last month’s post, inspiration for this piece came not from a true personal experience, but simply by learning about the life of monarch butterflies. Did you know that final generation monarch butterflies (born in spring, migrate south in fall) typically have a much longer lifespan (months as opposed to weeks) than the first generation (born late summer/early fall, migrate north in spring)? However, any of the migratory monarchs are likely to face threats to their survival along their journey. Therefore, some of the final-generation monarchs may not live as long as they are expected to, hence the idea behind this piece. I used the Spanish translation of butterfly, “mariposa”, as a nod to Spanish Heritage Month (September 15th-October 15th). If you’ve made it to the end of this, thanks for reading!
This article is a collaboration with Erica Adugwo, my friend and fellow Houstonian who is a certified transformational life and leadership coach. To differentiate our insights, each section includes the initial of the respective contributor.
If you’ve been following my blog for some time, then you know about my fascination with manifestation. This is the idea that we have the power to transform our thoughts into reality, positively and even negatively. I live by this philosophy, which motivates me to approach each day with optimism. I think that there is meaning in everything, so when I stumbled upon quotes that share a common message I knew it was no coincidence. With the help of words from various philosophers and writers, we will be discussing the power of believing. — F
The concept for this article came when I found the first quote by author Neville Goddard. I had been feeling discouraged due to not yet having reached my goals as far as views on this blog, and his words made me come to a realization. I cannot expect something to come to fruition simply because I want it. I have to believe in my potential and the possibility of what’s meant for me. Author Jack Canfield’s quote from Rhonda Byrne’s novel The Secret, offered me a different perspective. I can manifest anything I want, only if I believe. That is why I will continue to approach life with a positive attitude. I no longer define my blog’s success in numbers because I have the belief that the best is yet to come. — F
I believe in a benevolent Universe. I am inspired to always see the good, even in the bad. This does not mean I won’t experience hard times, but I know that everything ends up working out for my own good. It was my near-death experience thatmade me realize we are always being guided in the right direction to our destiny. As Goddard explained, we attract what we believe to be true, so if I believe in a benevolent Universe, then I can experience a life where despite trials and difficulties, a sense of joy, peace and fulfillment can still be found. Just as Canfield stated, we first have to decide what we want for ourselves. I believed I deserved to be healthy and that it was possible for me. If I could have it, then it is possible for another. Whatever it is, you must believe. — E
Belief is a mindset, a state of acceptance. Gandhi describes how just the mere belief that you can achieve something will give you the ability to do so. When you learn to acknowledge your own capabilities, you can accomplish anything you set your heart on; the very title of my blog supports this philosophy. To “Faith It ‘til You Make It” is to believe in one’s self, to carry confidence and optimism enough to reach your own idea of success. The effectiveness of both manifesting and praying depends on one key element: intention. In manifesting you might create affirmations, or encouraging statements, to repeat to one’s self that will help you focus on your desired outcome. Praying should be perpetual, with strong conviction and a clear purpose. You must believe that what’s meant for you is waiting for you because the Universe holds our fate. You must believe that in God’s time, prayers will be answered. It’s not as simple as asking for and immediately obtaining whatever you want. However you seek guidance, you can not expect results without patience, sustained faith, and sincere intentions. — F
Belief is powerful, when you believe in the power of your word and in God’s word anything is possible. I have learned that in the process of holding on to certain beliefs I might make mistakes, but if my beliefs match my everyday actions and my spiritual practice, then I am being congruent. If I believe that every action I take no matter how small will lead me to something bigger than myself, then I am on the right path. Say what you believe and believe what you say. Let your words and your actions align, and when you speak something into existence eventually it will take form as your reality. If someone says “I am poor, sick, weak”, their situation will remain so because our thoughts control our feelings and experiences. We must eliminate limiting beliefs that hinder our perception of the world around us. A higher sense of truth will transform into a greater reality, the reality you accept is what will manifest. — E
When we make the choice to believe something, we can either feel uplifted and inspired, or drained and disempowered. So the question we must ask ourselves is, “What do I choose to believe about myself, my neighbors, and the world in general?”. A belief is the individual truth of man. We can not change what may happen to us, but we can choose our attitude towards any given circumstance. This idea was originally provided by Viktor Frankel, whose exact point I brought up two years ago in my very first blog post. There is no denying the simple truth that our thoughts have an impact on our experiences, this is the Law of Attraction. So while manifestation is highly disregarded as nothing more than a fad, I stand firm in my belief of its magic. The wonderful things in life are ever-present, you just have to believe it to see it. — E & F
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I have been intrigued by philosophy for many years now, so getting to discuss manifestation was exciting! As a life coach, Erica posts analyses on life and mentality as well as motivational quotes on her social media. One day I had stumbled upon her Instagram page and one of her posts read “Faith it until you make it”. This was just months after I had started this blog site, and I let her know this. Soon after I learned that we are both from Houston! Her account is one of my favorite pages to find positivity and words of encouragement. If you want to check out her content yourself, visit her Instagram @/erica.k.inc or Twitter @/KellechieSpeaks. Thanks again to Erica for providing her insights for my blog!
》 Faith It ‘til You Make It 《 