Lobster Hiding Under a Rock Safe from Predators
Do you know how lobsters grow? Through discomfort!
Lobsters experience a fascinating biological process called ecdysis – the shedding of their exoskeleton to allow for growth. Simply put, their bodies grow but their shells don’t. So the shells have to be shed.
The catalyst for real growth in a lobster is discomfort. The shell becomes constraining and uncomfortable. When the discomfort becomes too much, the lobster hides under a rock formation to protect itself from predators, and then wiggles its way out of the old armour. Sometimes it even eats its old shell for nourishment.
During this molting process, the lobster is raw and vulnerable, with no protection. The new shell eventually grows in bigger than needed, giving room to grow into it. The full process takes 6 to 8 weeks for the shell to reach full hardness.
It must be noted that the lobster cannot grow to a newer and bigger size without first being uncomfortable and second, being vulnerable.
Likewise, in our own lives, in order to grow, we have to forsake our old shells and be willing to experience discomfort and even vulnerability, which often happens during transition.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
How has discomfort helped you to grow?
What old shell are you trying to shed now?
OR
How do you relate to what the lobster goes through?