Chrysalis: 101 Anecdotal Stories to Help Break the Professional Rut

By Sanjay Lohani

A caterpillar is not meant to be caterpillar. It is meant to be a butterfly. For that to happen, it has to go through the process of growth inside a cocoon (Chrysalis). Similarly, for us to evolve, we need to hang upside down like a caterpillar (metaphorically) and spin ourselves into a silky cocoon of learning. Within this protective Chrysalis, we learn, and practice critical skill set - transforming ourselves into a beautiful butterfly. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut, not being able to evolve to the next state despite commitment, intention and lots of hard work. We perhaps do not yet have the awareness, capacity, or the skill set to move to the next level. This is an engaging, easy-to-read book, with small (one-page) stories. These anecdotal stories can help you being aware of what you are struggling with and may even nudge you to evolve into a better version of yourself.

Even if you don't read many books - you will enjoy these small one-page anecdotal stories

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
• Release date: Dec 5, 2022

Book preview

Part 1:

The Mind

"You will be, what you will to be"

-James Allen

Cages are not made of iron. They are made of thoughts. Our life is shaped by our mind. If you want to change your life, change your thoughts first. The anecdotes in this section highlight how you can prepare and apply your mind to grow.

1.

If you were to build your house, how would you go about it?

Perhaps you may follow following steps:

• Imagine your future life and design the house accordingly.

• Visualise in detail, the house you want.

• Get the detailed blue prints worked out

And then get into execution.

Right?

You must be wondering what is the context here?

After a long time, re-reading Stephen Covey's '7 habits of highly Effective People', I realised for most projects, we start with the end product in mind. Covey asks us to apply the same to our life.

You could visualise a life you want in great detail and work on a blue print to get there. Or just let life happen to you.

Which one sounds more like your current life?

2.

Michael Phelps.

An outstanding/ outlier sportsperson. In the Olympics, Phelps won:

• Most medals all time - 28

• Most gold medals all time - 23

• Most gold medals at a single edition - 8, Beijing 2008

• Most medals all time in individual events - 16

What can we learn from him and apply to become better in what we do?

According to his coach Bob Bowman (who started coaching Phelps when he was 11 and used to struggle to focus), one of the key techniques which Phelps had consistently used, was - Visualisation.

Sometimes it’s like you are in the stands watching yourself swim, says Bowman. And sometimes it’s like you are in the water, swimming.

It was like multiple rehearsals of what would go right, what won't. Phelps would even visualise how he would tackle things when they won't go as planned, or when he was overtaken. All this would be done in vivid details.

Consider:

"Feel the water on your skin, feel your cap and goggles pressing into your body. Feel your suit hugging. You tight, you are now on the