Greetings!
Yes, autumn has officially arrived.
The mornings are cooler and the days are getting shorter. Sandal weather is slowly disappearing and sweater weather is beginning.
Ah, yes. While summer is my favorite season of the year, autumn is a close second.
Why? Because pumpkins and pumpkin-spiced everything are starting to pop up everywhere. And apples too, of course 😊
Most notably, autumn is the time of the year when the leaves change into breathtaking colors for a short period of time.
Who doesn’t love seeing green leaves transform into vibrant, bold shades of red, orange, yellow and brown?
In their full glory, changing leaves are also giving us a little reminder from Mother Nature, once again.
What am I talking about? It’s the art of letting go.
Just as trees let go of leaves without much effort, we can do the same thing too.
Why do trees just know how to do this naturally each autumn?
A simplified explanation might be that Mother Nature has designed trees not to have unlimited growth. When leaves are shed, they drop to the ground. They return to the soil, decompose and provide nutrients back to the trees to help prepare them for a fresh new growth.
This can be explained as the flow of life, as nature intends it to be. It’s a universal law.
When you actually let go of things that are weighing you down, affecting your well-being or are no longer serving your needs, you are grounding yourself. And you’re aligned with the laws of nature.
For centuries, Eastern traditions have studied the cycles of nature and have related them to humans and their health and well-being. As effortlessly as nature let’s go every autumn, humans can do it too.
So, I have a simple grounding tip for you: take stock of something you need to let go of.
There’s probably at least one thing you need to ditch. It could be a relationship that’s draining your energy, an unhealthy habit, physical stuff you’ve accumulated over the years, an outdated idea, or even a heated argument that you keep replaying in your mind.
Ok, so how do you actually let go?
It can definitely feel scary and uncomfortable. But you can play it safe by holding on to things you know you need to give up, or you can choose to grow by letting go. If the trees can do it, so can you.
Here’s how to do it:
Identify what you need to let go of. Typically, your gut feeling, or intuition will give you a little nudge that it’s finally time to let something go, and then accept it.
Take some time to acknowledge and honor whatever you’re letting go of. For example, if something once brought you a lot of joy, note it with gratitude for the ways it once enriched your life.
Be kind to the mixed emotions you might experience when letting something go. You could feel sad, or even deep grief if you’re choosing to let go of a relationship that’s no longer working. Or you could feel some anger, resentment, guilt or shame when releasing a difficult relationship. Even if you’re trying to let go of physical stuff through decluttering, all kinds of emotions can surface.
Notice all of your emotions for what they are and then let go of absolutely everything.
A journal is a great tool that can help you organize your thoughts and emotions around whatever it is that you need to let go. If you don’t have a journal, use a piece of paper or even your cellphone to take notes.
Of course, there will an emptiness that is often felt when we let go of something we’ve held on to for so long. It’s a natural feeling.
Just as the trees are left bare once autumn is over, we know there’s a period of darkness before spring, the season of new beginnings. Similarly, we must also learn to trust that for us too, a new beginning is often right around the corner once we let go.
When we clear away the old stuff, we make room for the new. It could be fresh starts, and new ideas, opportunities, new things and experiences.
Need some help with letting go? Why not consider booking a coaching or a private guided meditation session with me? Contact me here for a free discovery session.
Don’t forget to claim your free copy of my monthly newsletter, Grounded in Love by clicking here. You can also get your free copy of my guide, 5 Ways to Instantly Destress and Gain Mental Clarity here.