Feelings of discontentment are typically triggered when we are find ourselves desiring or craving something we don’t have. There’s no denying that lack of certain material things may cause serious discontent for very real reasons. Yet, at the root of most discontent is a feeling that we are stagnating. What we are sensing is a deeply seeded need to grow.

Just like a crab molts, leaving one shell behind to form a new larger shell, we need room to grow as well.

Sometimes we think new growth is impossible. We’ve mentally set limits on what we can do and who we can be. We do this because there is a degree of comfort from being set in our ways….until it isn’t comfortable anymore.

Too often we seek our answers outside of ourselves. Yet, crabs don’t move to new shells: They put in tremendous effort to create new homes within their old one first. And it is that work which creates the end result that ultimately allows the crab to further develop, expand and live.

Everything in nature needs room to grow and flourish. We are no different. 

Growth can be exhausting, challenging and difficult on countless levels. Yet, it is also exhilarating when we step out of our shell and adjust our comfort levels, becoming attuned to a new sense of personal growth and  freedom.