The other morning, my wife Ali was out by the pool when I heard her call out,
“Come out here quick! You’ve got to see this!”
There was a huge butterfly trapped inside our pool screen enclosure. We weren’t sure how it got in, but I suspect a caterpillar crawled in, formed a cocoon, and finally transformed into this incredible creature, hidden in plain sight.
It was raining, and Ali kept trying to guide it out with the pool net. Each time she got it to the open screen door, it turned around and flew right back in. Over and over. This butterfly battle went on for what seemed like an eternity before it finally found its way out.
Later, I found out it was an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
They’re strong, beautiful, and built to soar, but oddly enough, they’re known for misjudging boundaries like screens. That misjudgment often gets them stuck. And sometimes… it costs them.
And it got me thinking…we’re not all that different.
We’ve each been created with remarkable strengths: talents, resilience, and natural ability. Gifts that allow us to grow, create, and serve others. But along with those strengths come blind spots. Weaknesses. Habits. Beliefs. Misjudgments.
And when we don’t recognize them, we can end up flying in circles, repeating patterns that hinder us, exhaust us, or keep us stuck.
In our health, this shows up in quiet ways:
You exercise and eat clean, but your sleep and stress are wearing you down.
You take care of everyone else, but ignore the signals your own body is sending.
You are very disciplined in one area while completely neglecting another.
You try to do it all on your own, but your body’s asking for a smarter plan.
But here’s the good news:
When we truly understand our strengths, we become more effective in using them to serve others.
And when we humbly acknowledge our weaknesses, we open ourselves up to growth, support, and greater clarity.
You don’t have to do everything on your own.
But you do have to be aware.
That awareness is the turning point.
Just like that butterfly, strong, stunning, and yet disoriented, finally found its way out, sometimes all we need is a new perspective, a little help, or the humility to try a different path.
So here’s my encouragement for the week:
Be thankful for your strengths and build on them to be a blessing to others.
Recognize your limitations, not as failures, but as invitations to grow, ask for help, and live with greater wisdom and humility.
And if you ever feel like you’re looping in circles or flying into the same screen over and over, maybe it’s time to try a different direction.
Maybe you’re not trapped. Maybe it’s time to fly differently.
Dr. Derek Taylor, DC
