Autumn has never been my favorite time of year. I’m a summer girl; there’s 2 seasons for me: summer and “not summer.” So the onset of cooler weather, shorter days, and falling leaves has always left me feeling sad and a bit empty.
I love the energy of summer, the branching out, the loosened restrictions, the carefree feel, the playful atmosphere. There’s also such a great grounding that happens for me when I dig my toes into the sand and watch the waves of the mighty Atlantic lap at my feet. Fall to me has always meant shrinking, hunkering down, prepping for those horrible cold winter days when daylight is gone before 5 PM.
BUT
I’ve had a few moments over the past few weeks that have me rethinking the meaning of the autumn season. First, I had gotten up at 4:30 to do my usual workout, and was bemoaning the colder weather and lack of sunshine. The instructor that day had chosen “I am streamlined” as our daily affirmation. As we went through the exercises, I thought about what streamlining looks like for me, how I am streamlined, what I can do to further streamline aspects of my life. On my way to work, I kept thinking about streamlining, and as I saw all the trees turning beautiful rich colors, I thought of how fall really is nature’s way of streamlining. To conserve resources, the trees lose their leaves. They’re not as useful, so why not dump the weight and use energy where it is meaningful? Why hang on to something that is sucking you dry without a significant perk? My garden has wound down as well, no longer providing the boon of vegetables that come throughout summer, when resources like sun and rain are plentiful. They’ve lost their leaves, pulled chlorophyll from their stalks, and are shrinking down below ground to prepare for winter.
So, what if autumn isn’t really the time of death and decay that I’ve always perceived? What if autumn is a time to streamline? To rid our houses of what is not serving us? Cut the chaff and harvest the wheat.
Let’s look at our physical house- our body. Autumn is a time to switch from the fresh garden veggies and salads and look to more dense root vegetables, like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes. To forego the raw food and prepare nutrient dense soups or heartier sheet pan dinners. As our bodies slow to prepare for this time of rest, preparing foods that are “streamlined,” i.e. warmer and cooked, breaks down those raw nutrients into a more easily digested state, streamlining that digestive process and saving our energies for rebuilding.
What can we streamline in our emotional house? What are you harboring in there that isn’t serving you? How can you release negative emotions such as anger, bitterness, melancholy? In the short term these can help us navigate life events, but they need to be let go once their purpose is completed. For me, anxiety tends to linger long after it’s needed. I have friends who love to dredge up old ire or rehash old events that stir up negativity toward others in their life. How is this nourishing us? It’s depleting our resources and energies that could certainly do more good elsewhere. Taking stock of our emotions, particularly those that are buried but love to rear their ugly heads repeatedly, can help us release them. Take that negative energy, however that manifests itself in your life, and find a way to let it go. See it falling off like autumn leaves, and sweep them away. Affirmations, visualization, meditation, and Bach flower remedies can assist in this cleansing release.
Let’s look at the house of our spirit. What beliefs are you holding on to that are no longer serving you well? Is there a past transgression that’s been done to you that you have not let go? A sorrow or grief that is past its time? A sense of obligation where there is none? A relationship that has turned toxic but is lingering because it has become routine? Old habits or beliefs that you know are harmful but they’ve rooted in your house so you’ve let them sit there? These weights are using too much of your time, energy, and thoughts! Streamline them! Cut the chaff. Question your belief systems, and if they are not serving you, dump them! I have a habit of doing too much out of a sense of obligation, even when no one expects me or requires me to perform what I consider “my duty”. I am also terrible at asking others for help when I need it, so I don’t “inconvenience” anyone with my problems. By identifying these beliefs, I can rationalize why they are wrong, and plan on how to release them by replacing them with better patterns. Journal. Track your behaviors. Talk to a trusted friend or family member to “talk out” what you want to change and how. Streamline.
I challenge you to take stock of your physical, emotional, and spiritual houses this week. What “leaves” can you drop from your life? How can you streamline your energy so it all serves a greater purpose for greater good?
It’s a daunting task. I can help! A fresh perspective can shed light on those dusty corners or attic cobwebs that need clearing. Let’s make a plan to clean your house so you’re set for nesting in it this winter!
