Protein-rich goo

Some time ago, I was doing a walk + talk with Sarah Murphy-Kangas, and I asked her how she was doing.

She answered my question with a question: “Do you know how caterpillars actually become butterflies?”

I did not. 

“Everyone knows that when caterpillars become butterflies, they go into a cocoon,” she told me. “But while they are in the cocoon, caterpillars completely liquify, becoming protein-rich goo — before reconstituting themselves into butterflies.”

And then she said: 

“You asked me how I am. Right now, I am protein-rich goo.” 

…

(I am obsessed with this idea of “protein-rich goo.”) 

(Obsessed.)

…

Sarah, it turns out, knows her science. As Ferris Jabr with Scientific American puts it: “First, the caterpillar digests itself, releasing enzymes to dissolve all of its tissues. If you were to cut open a cocoon or chrysalis at just the right time, caterpillar soup would ooze out”. 

But even more importantly, Sarah pointed out such a profound part of the human experience. If we want to become something radically new — there may be a phase when we are molten and soupy, in the meantime. 

Once Sarah shared that concept with me, I realized that many conversations with my clients are ultimately conversations about protein-rich goo. 

So today, I thought I’d share a few things I often tell these wonderful clients of mine. Maybe they will help you, too. 

Here they are: 

1. On fighting the protein-rich goo phase.
   You may have to be protein-rich goo, on the way to where you’re going. There may be no route to where you want to be, that doesn’t involve a protein-rich goo, at least for a bit. Putting it off is also putting off your butterfly phase.  
   
   

2. On what makes being protein-rich goo so hard.
   It’s a phase when you don’t have legs, arms, or wings to help yourself– so it can feel overwhelming, and like there’s no way out. You will eventually have all of those things, but you will have to trust, for now, in your ability to grow them – cell-by-cell.
   
   

3. It’s not forever.
   It may feel like a long time while you are lost in the goo. But if you intend to find a way out, if you keep working to find a way out…you will reconstitute yourself.
   

…

And beyond these specific lessons, I just find the existence of this metaphor so soothing. 

If you feel like you happen to be protein rich-goo right now – you are not alone. You have lots of other humans — and former caterpillars — for company. 

As always, I’m rooting for you. Take care, everyone.

Katie




p.s. Have some big life projects you want to work on? Perhaps you'd like to work with me 1:1 - learn more here.