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I love the outdoors. It’s hard to ignore the ever-increasing body of evidence that shows us that being outdoors has a whole host of benefits for our physical and mental wellbeing. But that’s not all nature has to offer us.
In my personal life, I often find myself looking to nature for inspiration, and as a therapist I frequently draw insight from the natural world to help clients navigate the complexities of change in their lives. Of course, all of the seasons are periods of transition. The cycle of nature mirrors our journey as humans, with each phase of our lives offering its own unique set of joys and challenges. But autumn… there is something just a little bit special about autumn.
At this time of year, the landscape around us undergoes a dramatic shift – vibrant greens turn to warm hues of gold, leaves fall and branches become bare, the air gets colder and the days shorter. Autumn is a living testament to the inevitability of change and offers an abundance of profound metaphors for understanding the importance of letting go and embracing change.
The Beauty of Letting Go
Just as the trees must shed their leaves in order to move to winter and the new growth of spring, there are moments in our own lives where we must learn to let go in order to move forward. In the same way the lush foliage of summer gives way to the bare branches of autumn, we too can learn to release old patterns, thoughts, and behaviours that no longer serve us, and embrace a more vulnerable self in order to grow.
Embracing Change
Life is inherently uncertain. For some of us, this uncertainty is more difficult to navigate and can make us anxious. However, these periods can provide valuable lessons in how to cope with change and bring insights that enrich our lives. We are often able to reflect with hindsight how those tumultuous times helped us to change and grow. If we can learn to view change as an innate part of our existence in the moment, we can begin to approach transitional periods of our life with openness and curiosity.
Developing Self-Acceptance
Autumn, a season of beauty and decline, embodies the coexistence of seemingly conflicting elements. The cool days and first frosts, mixed with the gift of “Indian summer” days; the continuous presence of evergreens alongside the bare branches of deciduous trees. Autumn shows us that it is possible to be “both/and” and not “either/or”. We too can learn to accept our multi-faceted nature and make room for the nuance of our experience. You can feel blessed to be a parent, and resentful of the pressures of motherhood. You can grieve the loss of a loved one, but feel relieved of the responsibility of being a carer. When we allow breathing space for all facets of our being, we can become more compassionate to ourselves and others.
The Value of Reflection
The shorter days and cooler nights of autumn can often invite introspection. Retreating indoors physically is an opportunity to turn inward mentally and evaluate our paths. In therapy, this reflective process is crucial, but even in our day-to-day lives the quietude of autumn can encourage us to take a pause, look within and cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves, which in turn fosters self-acceptance.
Preparing for What’s to Come
As autumn prepares nature for winter, we too can use transitional periods in our lives to prepare for the next chapter. Setting goals, building resilience or simply taking the time to nurture ourselves are all great ways to prepare for whatever comes next. When we are deep in the messiness of periods of change, it can be easy to wish the days away until its all over, but by being present in our experiences, we develop coping strategies for handling change and can use them as stepping stones to personal growth.
Recognising the Transience of All Things
In therapy, clients often wrestle with existential questions about the meaning of life, death and where they fit in the scheme of it all. The impermanence of stages of our lives, and of life itself, can be unsettling, but beginning to recognise the potential and purpose in the fleeting moments can bring us comfort. Nature shows us that we all undergo phases of growth, stagnation, decay, and renewal. By acknowledging and confronting our own impermanence, we can live more authentically within each moment and each relationship.
Finding Strength in Vulnerability
In Autumn, the trees shed their leaves, exposing themselves to the elements, providing a rich metaphor for showing strength in their vulnerability. Similarly, embracing change in our lives often requires us to step out of our comfort zones and face the unknown. In the therapy room, my aim is always to create an environment within which clients feel they can be safely vulnerable. Sitting with our vulnerability can allow for profound healing and growth and, with time, fosters resiliency.
That’s the magic of autumn. In its glory and in its melancholy, it serves as a poignant reminder of the cyclical and transient nature of life and the inherent value of letting go and embracing change. Weaving these themes into our lives can provide us with a holistic understanding of our journey, and help us move towards self-awareness, acceptance, and transformation. Just as the world around us evolves with each passing season, so too do we have the capacity to evolve, reinvent, and not just cope, but thrive amidst the ebbs and flows of life.
