Letting Things Fall Away

The last days of summer have come and gone, fall is now fully upon us. I couldn’t be any happier. Not that I have anything against summer, it’s a lovely season. Long fun days at the lake with our dogs, camping, hiking, kayaking and family barbecues. But fall has always held a special place in my heart.

After long days of baking in the Okanagan heat I find the crispness of the autumn air refreshing. And no matter how many times I see the leaves changing I am always in awe that anything could be quite so beautiful, so perfect, while in transition.

Perhaps that is why on a personal level fall has always been a time of change for me as well. How could I not be inspired when I worship at the altar of nature daily. For me autumn is a time to slow down, reflect, turn my gaze inward; to be deeply honest with myself. Looking at “the stuff” that’s easy to gloss over and avoid. Acknowledging that I may need to make changes that initially feel awkward or uncomfortable. I find myself asking the questions where in my life was I happiest, most inspired, and motivated to serve? What no longer fits or serves my highest good?

Understanding that just as the tree must let go of its leaves to survive the harsh conditions of winter, so it is in our lives as well. How else do we continue to grow, evolve and have the happiness we want if we do not let go of that which we have outgrown or no longer serves us?

Years of adventure sports have served me well. They were tough but patient teachers who taught me many of life's most important lessons. When to push on or through, when to let go and walk away. Where I am strong and where I am not so strong. It taught me how to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Learning to endure, even when it doesn't feel good may have been the most valuable lesson of all, because the truth is that change is uncomfortable. Or perhaps more accurately said our resistance to change is uncomfortable.

We fear what we don’t know. We fear what we don’t understand. We avoid that which makes us uncomfortable, we cling to comfort and the familiar like a drowning women clings to a life ring. We seek to remain the same, unchanged, untouched even as everything surrounding us shifts. Sometimes fighting with all our might, believing, hoping that if we are powerful enough in our resistance somehow remaining as we once were could be an option. In spite of the fact that deep inside we all know that nothing could be further from the truth. Everything does and must change, it is a fact of life and one could quite logically argue necessary for our very evolution as human and spiritual beings.

The truth is what we ought to fear is remaining the same. If we are not growing or evolving then we are in fact decaying. We need to look no further than to nature for this most powerful lesson. Nature is constantly changing, evolving, growing and transforming. And it does all this with no fear, no worry. A tree does not worry if it is the right kind of tree, if it is growing in the right location, what the other trees are thinking about it. It simply grows toward the light to the best of its ability. Nature trusts the process.

The ego would have us believe that we are separate, from whatever source or God we believe in. The ego would have us believe we are separate from each other and from nature. Which of course is impossible. You can take a drop of water from the ocean but it is still salt water. We are not separate from Buddha, God, Allah, Universe, whatever you call it, or from nature for that matter. We are always deeply connected to our source. We can not lose who we are because our external conditions have changed.

Each and everyone of us is connected to something so much greater, that divinely guides and supports us. Peace, love, inspiration and motivation is ours to enjoy as soon as we learn to relax and let go, to honor and trust the natural process of change. How much easier might our lives flow if we were to adopt nature’s style? Understanding in our heart and minds that we are exactly where we need to be, to learn what is most needed for our own personal evolution. To grow where we are planted and let the things that no longer support our highest selves simply fall away..

And it is on that note that I would like to invite you to make some time, perhaps as you walk through the falling leaves to reflect upon your own life. Is there something, someone you are clinging to? If you answered yes, what if, you took a deep breathe and simply and elegantly let if fall away.... How much freer might you feel? How much peace might rush into your life?

Thank you so much for reading, if you enjoyed this post I welcome your comments below and please share with your friends!

Much Love and Many Blessings

Jenn xo