Autumn is the perfect time to clean out and let go of what no longer serves you in your life.
Look around and notice that the days are getting shorter and the leaves are falling from the trees. Soon, there will be less bounty and abundance being offered from the flowers and plants. Nature is letting go of excess and stripping down to the essentials – to what is really necessary to get through the long, dark winter. These cues from nature are beautiful invitations to help you in identifying, releasing, and letting go of the excess, of the things that are perhaps weighing you down in your life.
It’s important to “clean house” on an inner level every now and again, and take stock of what you’re holding onto.
So often, you hold on to old fears, resentments, habits, patterns, limiting beliefs and ways of being because they FEEL comfortable since you’ve been clenching on to them for so long. However, when you take a closer look, you can begin to see that these things no longer serve you, and in fact are standing in your way of moving forward.
The tree metaphor applies here: imagine what might happen if trees never shed their leaves? Yes, they might not ever look bare, and there is comfort in always looking full and abundant. However, if the trees never shed their leaves, they would never have space or opportunity to grow new leaves – new ideas, new projects, new beliefs, new opportunities. See where I’m going with this?
I’ve created for a you a simple and special Autumn ritual to be able to identify and let go of the things in your life that are ready to be released:
First,carve out some special time for yourself. Go to an outdoor place that feels sacred to you: a park, a stream, a path in the woods. Any place that feels safe and supportive for you. You’ll want to bring paper and a pen.
Once you’ve arrived at your sacred outdoor space, sit down in a comfortable place and first connect with nature. Feel your seat on the ground, and take a couple of nice, deep breathes in – taking in the Autumn air and the energy of releasing and letting go. Next, use your paper and pen and answer the following quesitons. Take some time to really feel into these questions:
· What in your life or work currently feels like a burden to you?
· What habits or patterns leave you feeling tired, overwhelmed, or bored?
· What is currently wasting your time?
· What are you most scared of right now?
Review your answers, and create a list of 3 things that you know you are really ready to let go of. This list should be things that you know in your heart are no longer serving you, even though they might feel comfortable for you.
Next, find 3 rocks or pebbles. Each of these rocks will represent one thing that you are ready to release, surrender, and let go of. Be clear for yourself what each rock represents. Take a moment as you pick up each rock or pebble from the ground, close your eyes, feel the rock in your hand and say to yourself, “This rock represents my fear of success” or “This rock represents my addiction to sugar” or “This rock represents my relationship with my boyfriend”. Really allow each rock to take on the energy of each thing you want to release.
Then, go on a mindful walk with your three rocks. On this walk, make note of all the ways that each of your “rocks” have gotten in your way of happiness and success. Then, as you are ready, let each rock go, one by one. Drop them to the ground, really feeling that you are symbolically letting go of each. If you are near water, you can throw each rock into the water, listening to the splash each rock makes as it hits the surface and sinks down. Then take a moment to notice how it feels in your body to commit to releasing each of these things.
The last piece is to write down a next action step for each of your items. For example, if one of your items is your addiction to sugar, a next action step might be to cut sugar out after 9pm. Bring your action sheet home, and keep it somewhere that you’ll be reminded of it often.
This Autumn ritual is a great way to partner your inner and outer energy to create change in your life!
