How to Make Progress Like a Spider

A woman progressing is like a spider molting. Her old ways don’t work anymore, just like the outer skin of a spider becomes too small for its growing body. Being inspired to change, the woman allows her better self to emerge as she sloughs off outdated habits and perspectives. Likewise, the spider finds a safe place to squeeze out of its old skin. Molting is a natural process, but it involves pain, conviction, and patience.
Recently  I read the book Nurture Shock by Po Bronson an Ashley Merryman. It contradicted some of my basic views on parenting. I’ve believed that it’s a good idea to tell children how smart they are. The authors of this book discuss an interesting study where 5th graders were randomly placed in two groups. After taking a test, children in one group were praised for being smart while children in the other group were praised for working hard. The children praised for working hard were willing to try another test that was much more difficult but would teach them more. The children praised for their smarts preferred a test they were told would be easy.

I decided to try out this theory. I’ve noticed a subtle change in my children as I’ve focused on the value of work instead of telling them how great they already are. Their attitudes about academics have improved, especially in areas that are difficult for them.  I didn’t know my ideas about praise were not all correct, and Nurture Shock was filled with information that painfully showed me my outdated opinions. Waking up to our weaknesses can hurt, but can also be inspiring.

Sometimes it takes a friend to shake us awake. As a college student, I played in an orchestral gig away from home. After the concert, our van full of musicians stopped for a treat at Dairy Queen. I was so excited for my ice cream and fairly stunned to hear a cellist tell the driver, “Thank you, but I really wouldn’t like any treats.” Even after heavy pressure from the people in front, she held firm and insisted that her bottle of water was enough.

While licking down my delicious vanilla cone, I asked this unique lady all about her convictions regarding health. She had sparked something in me and I realized how good it would feel to shed the ‘old skin’ of impulsive eating, junk food, and eating to feel full. Our family is eating more avocados, bananas, salads, and I even made my own hummus. The day came when I took all my Ramen Noodles, white flour, white sugar, cake mixes, and Pasta-Roni to an appreciative neighbor. Strangely, it wasn’t even hard. I was making small changes because the inspiration from a friend and a book caused the ‘new skin’ to grow with solid conviction—even before all the ‘old skin’ came off.

Since then, my eating habits have fluctuated, but that’s where patience comes in. We can take a lesson from the spider that rests after molting. His new skin is damp and soft like putty, so he patiently waits until it’s dry before moving on. Women too need to rest, and use their resting time to re-inspire themselves.

I was excited to get my life in order using the Mind Organization for Moms (M.O.M.) program from The Power of Moms website. I got the whole program because I was excited about having a trustworthy system for my floating ideas and to change from crazy and scatterbrained to functional and efficient.

So I did the first steps. I created the physical system…but that’s about as far as I’ve gone. Often at this point in the process of change we say, “I should work harder! I was so close to getting it all together!” Instead of frantically fixing ourselves, we can calmly re-evaluate our situation with gratitude. Then we can reflect on why we’re doing this and remember the inspirational friend, words, or feelings that originally started the change.

For me this means reading inspirational books, articles, or blogs that remind me where I’m going. As for the M.O.M. program, I’m going to frequently read the introduction to the program on The Power of Moms website—including the links to April’s guest posts and to quotes by other moms about the program. I need to feel the change working inside me as I see the world in a new way.

Words have power to change our minds and hearts. As Emerson said, “I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” When we patiently change on the inside first, the outer changes happen naturally and our old shell falls away, not without some pain, but always with welcome renewal.

QUESTION: In what area of your life do you feel you need to “molt” and get a new perspective?

CHALLENGE: Read on that topic this week; share the ideas with a spouse, friend or journal.

About Lindsay Fife Szczesny

Lindsay has 4 children ages 6 and under, two boys and two girls. The best part of her life comes in the mornings when her children sit around her on the couch to read and discuss stories. The most challenging part of her life is getting dinner ready daily. She runs, practices yoga, reads books, visits libraries, plays the violin in a fiddle group, and goes on a weekly date with her husband, Stan.