Autumn has arrived in all its pumpkin-spiced, cozy-sweater glory. The season of colorful leaves, shorter days, and the inevitable flood of inspirational quotes about “letting go” is upon us. But this isn’t just another fall-themed Instagram post—oh no, this is your existential wake-up call. While nature knows exactly when to slow down, shed, and prepare for rest, we humans? We’re just busy, busy, busy. Society tells us to be productive 24/7, because, obviously, 24 hours isn’t enough to live our best lives and burn out spectacularly.
So, why don’t we take a cue from nature? Fall is begging you to slow down, to sit outside among the crisp air, watch the birds, and—gasp—just be.
Now, if you’re anything like me, you might think, Slow down? Really? I’m a messy gal, and not just in the “leave dirty dishes in the sink” kind of way. No, my brand of chaos runs deep. If I went missing and the police came to my house, they’d think there had been a terrible struggle. But nope—just my clutter. It’s how I live. External clutter is one thing—sure, that’s manageable (ish). But the internal clutter? That’s sneakier. My brain is like a stubborn toddler clutching an armful of old toys, screaming “But I neeeeeed these!” even though none of it is useful anymore.
Let’s face it: we all have our versions of clutter—whether it’s the closet full of high school sweatshirts we refuse to part with, or the mental clutter of outdated beliefs and grudges. It’s the stuff we hold on to even though it doesn’t serve us anymore. Autumn forces us to ask, What am I still holding on to that’s weighing me down?
The Messy Business of Letting Go
As the leaves fall and nature begins its quiet retreat, we’re invited to do the same. Just like the trees shed their leaves in preparation for winter, we need to shed what no longer serves us—whether that’s emotional baggage, bad habits, or that pile of planting supplies I’m hoarding despite my terrible track record with plants. Seriously, I’ve killed more succulents than I care to admit, and yet there’s a corner of my home dedicated to someday. Why? Because, like my external clutter, my internal clutter is all about clinging to potential. Maybe I’ll be a plant mom someday, just like I’ll use those old sweatshirts again…someday.
Autumn reminds us that nature lets go every year, without fear, without regret. Those leaves were essential in their time, but they no longer serve the trees. And the trees? They don’t agonize over it. They know that letting go is part of the cycle. The trees don’t worry about whether their branches will ever be full again—they trust that new growth will come when it’s time.
But us? We humans are a different breed. We cling to things—jobs, relationships, versions of ourselves—that no longer serve us. We fear letting go because we’ve been conditioned to believe that shedding is losing. But what if it’s actually the opposite? What if letting go is the only way to create space for something better?
As Nietzsche so wisely put it, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” It’s in these moments of reflection, when we’re shedding what no longer serves us, that we find our why. What truly matters? What is our purpose? The clutter we’re so attached to—whether physical or emotional—keeps us from finding the answers.
Nature’s Cycle: A Lesson in Trust
In nature, everything works in cycles. The leaves fall, the trees rest, and when the time is right, they bloom again. There’s no rushing the process, no forcing productivity. Nature trusts the cycle. And that’s where we could learn a thing or two.
Imagine if the trees tried to be productive year-round. They’d exhaust themselves, and instead of those vibrant autumn colors, we’d see shriveled, tired leaves holding on for dear life. Sound familiar? That’s us—constantly in go-mode, terrified that if we rest, if we let go, we’ll never get it back. But here’s the thing: we need rest. We need reflection. Autumn gives us the perfect backdrop to pause, take a deep breath, and think about what we really want from life.
Reflection is the gateway to self-discovery. It’s not just about letting go of things that no longer serve us—it’s about discovering who we really are in the process. When you slow down, when you allow yourself to be still (yes, even with all the mental and emotional clutter), you can finally hear yourself think. You can finally ask yourself the important questions: What do I want? Where am I headed? And perhaps most crucially: Am I on the path I want to be on?
Take a look outside—nature knows how to slow down. The birds, the squirrels, even the trees know when it’s time to rest. Meanwhile, here we are, constantly hustling, constantly grinding, too busy to sit and reflect. But here’s the thing: Autumn is inviting you to slow down, reflect, and shed. It’s not a time for panic or productivity—this is your season to clear out the mental cobwebs and figure out what really matters.
Shedding Isn’t Losing; It’s Gaining
Letting go doesn’t mean losing—it means making space for something better. That’s the beauty of autumn. The leaves fall, but they pave the way for something new to grow. And you? You need that space. Whether it’s shedding an old mindset, a job that drains you, or a version of yourself you no longer recognize, autumn is the perfect time to let it go.
Viktor Frankl said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Nature knows this. Every year, it goes through this process of release and renewal. We’re no different. We need to release what no longer fits our lives so we can make room for something new—something more aligned with who we’re becoming.
So, yes, I’m a messy gal. My house is a disaster, and my brain isn’t much better. But autumn reminds me—and now it’s reminding you—that the mess isn’t permanent. We can clean out our internal closets, let go of what we no longer need, and make space for something better.
And if you’re still clinging to those high school sweatshirts, maybe it’s time to ask yourself: What am I really holding on to?