The Boy and the Butterfly…not the underwear

I’m not saying I’m not a huge Miley Cyrus fan but she gave 2 speeches last night at the Grammy Awards; both of which captured my attention, for different reasons. The subject of interest today is the speech about “The Boy and the Butterfly.” (Maybe I’ll write about the lack of underwear in my next blog).

Anyways! In her Grammy acceptance speech, Miley Cyrus shared a story about a little boy who wanted a butterfly for his birthday. Despite his efforts with a butterfly net, he had no luck catching one. Sitting down, he let go of his desire to capture the butterfly, and at that moment, a butterfly landed on his nose. Cyrus likened the song "Flowers" to her butterfly, expressing gratitude for the unexpected success​.

I think the butterfly story is about the power of letting go. It suggests that sometimes, when we stop trying to force outcomes, we might just receive what we've been hoping for, often unexpectedly and beautifully. It's a metaphor for not clinging too tightly to desires or outcomes but rather being open to receiving life's surprises.

Here are 3 things I’m applying the Butterfly and the Boy Principle to:

1. Career Goals: While ambition is vital, focusing exclusively on certain outcomes, like financial gain, might overlook crucial aspects of your profession, such as nurturing long-term relationships with clients.

2. Expectations of others: Marcus Aurelius put it elegantly "Be strict with yourself but least reproachful of others; be gentle and forgiving with others but strict with yourself." Letting go of high expectations of others could relieve a lot of your stress. By adopting a more accepting and understanding attitude, we foster a more supportive environment that values growth and genuine connections over perfection.

3. My Butterfly moment: The knowledge that letting go could create the magic you seek, could in itself be antithetical to opening yourself to the full range of experiences life has to offer. So really let go! Do the work (the hard work), be kind, and let the rest unfold.

Here’s 1 Question to ask yourself that will help with Letting Go. 

1. What would I notice or experience right now if I were fully present?