The Quiet Work Of Autumn

Source: Photo by Pixabay

Why do we feel a loss when the seasons change? The arrival of autumn! Shedding of the yellowed, brown leaves, the air turning crisp and cold wth early sunsets! Somehow, it relates to a growing need within us for a change for the better. It is because autumn, in its own natural ways, mirrors what happens in our own lives when we outgrow certain roles or habits. Just as a tree lets go of the leaves it no longer needs, we are also invited to let go of things that no longer serve us. These can be the unseen burdens we carry out of routine, fear, or habit. Let’s explore this concept of the quiet of autumn and how it strongly relates to our human lives in terms of bringing about a positive change.

The Wisdom of Letting Go

Source: Freepik

Change is always challenging. The thing is that the big changes often happen quietly. Much like autumn, it’s not about drastic change or a full turnabout in life. It is about releasing what no longer belongs. Consider your past roles. The silent friend who was always there, appreciated or not, or the high-achiever who never stopped working. Those roles might have defined you once, but do they still fit you? Do they still serve you now? The quiet of autumn reminds us that we need to let go of roles or habits that no longer deserve a space in our hearts and minds. It is not easy to let go of your tight grip on the past, whether it be roles, people, or habits, but it is still essential to flourish in the coming time, almost like an autumn tree.

Honour What’s Leaving!

Source: Photo by Osman Arabacı

You don’t need to resent the roles you wish to shed or the habits that no longer serve a purpose. Remember! One can embrace change while still thanking the Old You. Holding on to things we need to let go of or have already outgrown only takes unnecessary energy and prolongs the matter. You don’t have to resent who you were to become a better version of yourself. Similarly to an autumn tree, shedding its load to become a fresher version of itself in the coming season.

Create Space

The autumn season brings a load of falling leaves, but those trees don’t mourn this natural process. They trust that new growth will come. Likewise, we can learn an important lesson. We need to shed habits or identities that have stopped serving us, like autumn leaves. Perhaps you were once the person who always agreed to take on an extra workload, even when you were already stretched thin. Now is the wake-up time. Learn from autumn itself to make space for healthier, truer ways of living. To learn to say ‘NO’ when you are stretched thin at the workplace.

Listen To The Quiet

Source: Photo by Craig Adderley

One of autumn’s great features is the stillness it brings. Ask yourself deep questions that you might otherwise ignore in this quiet. What habits are not good for me in the long run, though they give me pleasure? What roles have I outgrown and no longer define my present self? When you try to slow down and sit quietly enough to hear your own answers, you will realize the ultimate truth. That shedding a habit or role is an ending, but also a beginning to something more profound and meaningful.

Bottom Line

The quiet work of autumn reminds us that often growth doesn’t always look like expansion. By shedding what no longer serves us now, we pave the way for our truer selves. Like autumn trees shed their leaves to blossom more beautifully in the coming spring. Letting go makes us lighter and more aligned with who we truly are. So, take a moment to notice the quiet work of autumn around you and let it remind you that you need to do your own quiet work of releasing and growing.