What Autumn Can Teach Us About Gracefully Letting Go
Accepting What Is and Releasing What Has Passed
Autumn is here and with the changing season comes an opportunity for change within our own lives. Fall teaches us how beautiful it can be to let go. To let the leaves of our past transform into vibrant red, orange, and yellow memories — Memories we shed without fear knowing new revitalization is on the way. The days are getting shorter and we prepare for winter by watching nature release to the earth what no longer serves. What a great example and leader for our own lives.
Let us be like nature and gracefully let go. Accepting the circle of all things that arise and dissipate in this life. All things have a beginning and an end.
Our breath is fluid within us from the first inhale to the final exhale. A constant reminder of the ebb and flow within our own internal ecosystem. Fall is a great time to get outside and breathe deep into our lives and let go of what no longer serves us so that we too can transform.
Accepting What Is
Acceptance is the answer to all things. It puts us in the ever-eternal now and helps us be at peace with all that is. If you seek lasting joy and happiness then the wisdom of acceptance is part of your path. When we attach to anything too much it ends up owning and controlling us. This includes the ego, our internal source of all dissatisfaction.
Taking a walk beneath the changing colors of autumn reflects to us how joyful release can be. In spring we wonder at the new growth of the tree so delicate and fresh, and in fall we explore the crisp rich colors crunching beneath our feet. The air is fresh and we find ourselves another year older. Now is a great time to ask ourselves…
- What am I ready to let go of?
- What am I ready to accept?
- What areas of my life need change?
We tend to hold on to things, people, jobs, and memories as though they define who we are or our importance in this world. We forget that all things flow like a leaf breaking from a branch to float along a stream. Change is inevitable. You must choose to either accept what is or resist and be angry when change happens without your acceptance or permission because it will. To live in the beauty of this moment you must let go of fear and stand in harmony with the cycle of all things.
Willing to Let Go
Trees are so beautiful and strong. Confidently they shed their lush covering and allow themselves to be exposed to the harsh world of winter. The trees understand that in shedding what no longer serves them they can draw more energy within to help them survive all winter so that in spring they can begin the process again.
There are things in your life right now that are holding you back. Things that are stealing your energy and preventing you from making the necessary transformation and growth in your own life. Now is the time to ask…
- What am I afraid will happen if I let this go?
- Where is my energy better spent?
- What inside of me is ready to transform?
Letting go takes trust. Autumn is a reminder of the earth’s promise to us. We know that every season will be followed by the next, yet we have a challenge accepting this in our own lives. A new day is waiting, but we must shed the old growth to make room for the new.
Reflect on your life right now. Everything in your life is a result of new beginnings and things you’ve let go. The house, the job, the relationships, all of it a cycle in and of itself. We can see this in nature and our own lives, but we all get stuck on what is possible when we focus on comfort over growth.
Winter is dark and cold but promises renewal if we are willing to risk being exposed to the hard truths of life. Allow fall to help you let go, find strength, and prepare for what’s to come.
Breathing Into Fall
Autumn is a time to reflect on what has come to pass. A time of harvest, and a time to clear out stagnation in our internal landscape to prepare for a new season. Breathwork helps move trapped energy through our body. It’s a way of processing unresolved emotions and suppressed feelings without having to relive trauma. It is a way for our internal world to support us through the seasonal changes of our own lives.
We can use our breath to release from our body and mind what is no longer needed. We can let go and focus our energy on growth, joy, acceptance, and gratitude. Mindful, conscious breathing is a way to move out the trapped emotions of your past so you can let go and confidently move towards new growth.
Below is a guided breathing meditation. It is written to be done seated or lying down at home. You can also modify it to be used while walking through the autumn fall — A way to help move stuck energy and allow yourself to gracefully let go and move into acceptance of what is.
Guided Breath Meditation for Letting Go
- Take a comfortable seat or lay down. Allow your back to float long and find ease in the body.
- Soften your gaze and bring your attention to the tip of your nose. Becoming aware of each inhale and each exhale.
- Slowly begin to lengthen each inhale through the nose.
- Exhale out the mouth, slow, long, and mindfully.
- Mindfully bring each breath deep into your belly as you allow it to expand on the inhale and relax on the exhale.
- Let your breath be the most interesting thing in your world, allowing thoughts to float in and out of your mind like clouds passing on a summer day.
- Notice your body relaxing more with each exhale.
- Close your eyes and see yourself in nature.
- Notice the colors
- Notice the temperature
- Notice the smells
- Notice the sounds
- Notice all you can about your scenery
- Notice the emotions you are feeling
- After you have settled into a clear vision, focus your thoughts on one thing you would like to release attachment from.
- Keep focused on that one thing and deepen your breath around it. Use every inhale to bring in gratitude for all it has given to your life and use every exhale to gracefully release it to the world.
- Continue this for 10 or so rounds of breath.
- Now shift your attention to the transformation.
- Imagine your life once you’ve let go of this one thing.
- Imagine the positive impact this change will have.
- Dwell here in this new reality as long as it feels good. When you are ready to end this breathing meditation, take a few deep rounds of breath and move into a final stretch
- Circle sweep your arms wide and up to the sky on an inhale, bringing your hands together in prayer.
- Exhale as you guide your hands down through your center line and allow them to rest in your heart center for 2–3 more rounds of breath.
- When you are ready, blink open your eyes, and allow the sensations you are feeling to guide you into acceptance.
Breathwork is a great way to let go and heal. If you are interested in learning more follow me on Instagram at Breath_Mindset and join my 4-week online course, Breath Mindset.
Originally published at http://heart-lightstudios.com on October 4, 2022.
