7 Powerful Habits That Make Fall the Season of Personal Growth
Become invincible using these simple techniques.
Autumn is upon us.
The air is crisp and clear. Nature’s treasures sparkle golden in the sun.
Many people dread the season, as cooler and shorter days are just around the corner. We find it hard to let go of the warmer, carefree summer months.
Still, many people adore the colours of the changing scenery and the cosy season of warm sweaters and pumpkin spice.
No matter which group you count yourself in, fall is a wonderful season to practice new, empowering habits.
What can you let go of?
Sadness and nostalgia seem to be prevalent themes of autumn.
The season of light and celebration of life — summer — is coming to a close. The season of letting go is taking the front seat.
The technique of letting go healed my life.
Letting go seems against our instincts. We were programmed to accumulate and chase after more. After all, we subscribed to the illusion that the more you have, the happier you get.
Fall mirrors the cyclicity of life. It speaks of endings that blossom into new beginnings:
- a relationship that no longer aligns with your values.
- the job, that no longer carries promising prospects.
- the nostalgia of what ‘could have been’, so you can make the best of where you are now.
Human minds cling to the familiar. We find it hard to let go of past identities, even if they turn our reality into hell.
Complaining is a bad habit we cultivate because it brings short-term relief and feeds the ego. Fall is the perfect time to reflect on things and habits you can let die.
What can you let go of this season?
What is holding you back?
Whose opinion is standing in the way of boldly following your dreams?
Who do you need to say goodbye to?
Letting go can be hard. But clinging to something that no longer serves you is deadly.
Who said there cannot be a glimpse of positivity in letting something die? When you let go of the dead energy, you can welcome new blessings into your life. You can proudly chant:
I say goodbye to the things that no longer belong to my life.
What can you detoxify?
Autumn is the perfect season to declutter your home, drawers, and wardrobe from things you no longer use as much as you did in the summer.
Summer dresses are treasures, but let’s be honest, that trench coat, turtleneck, fancy shades, and dark lipstick need their five minutes as well.
What clothes do you no longer wear but hold tightly because of the meaning you ascribed to them?
You would be surprised to discover how many items of the past enslave us because we don’t want to toss them out of the house and our minds.
Perhaps, somebody else can use the items you no longer find comfortable?
Fall is an excellent time for detox. It can be a juice cleanse, a caffeine detox, or a social media cleanse.
Think about the habits that seem “too comfortable” for you. If the idea alone of ditching something makes you nervous, it is probably the sign you should do it in the first place.
As the trees begin to shed their leaves, fall is the perfect time to shed and cleanse toxins from our system to strengthen and boost immunity for the winter months.
Ayurveda advises switching from cold, raw food to warm stews and soups made of root vegetables like parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, ginger, and turmeric.
Detox doesn’t mean starvation. It is about eliminating certain groups of food only to replace them with seasonal ingredients.
I grow into the best version of myself.
How about a mental diet?
Diets are not only fads in the beauty world but also in the mental health department.
A mental diet means monitoring your thoughts and focusing on constructive ideas instead of giving in to negative thinking.
Your thoughts either boost your confidence and self-belief or clutter your brain with doubt and worry.
Two opposite thoughts cannot coexist together.
As long as you persist with negative beliefs, you will feel hopeless and pessimistic about the future and eventually lose motivation to pursue any goals.
Question your thoughts.
Is it something that will benefit me in the future? Does it make me feel at peace and grounded?
Are they cheering you on the way to your success, or are they responsible for creating the illusion of lack?
What negative thoughts block you from making that first move, sending out that application, or moving to a different city?
What beliefs about yourself and possible what-if scenarios are holding you back?
Write them down.
Do not succumb to your limiting beliefs. Only by becoming aware of them can you make the change.
Your thoughts either boost your confidence and self-belief or clutter your brain with doubt and worry.
When I silence negative thoughts, I grow. I deserve peace of mind.
Where is the rush?
There is a slowness in fall that feels blissful to me.
Faster does not mean better. More does not mean enough.
Take a look at nature. Isn’t its simplicity spellbinding? It is perfectly organized. There is time for everything, yet there is no haste in it.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
— Lao Tzu,
Observing the fall is a beautiful meditation practice.
It shows us to take life peacefully, one step at a time. Stop and stare for a while to appreciate its beauty.
We are entering the season of hibernation. Mindfully prepare for it.
If you recharge your energy this season, the next spring, your strengths will be in full bloom. What you are about to build will give rise to a solid foundation.
Self-growth is not something that can be rushed.
A heavy mind and shattered nervous system can lead to adrenal fatigue, insomnia, and indigestion, to name a few.
Eat your meals in a relaxed manner. Practise yoga in the morning or give Pilates a try. Take regular meditation breaks.
Say ‘no’ to the external stimuli that pull your attention in many directions. Replace them with healthier picks. You will tune in to your body’s natural rhythms.
Self-growth is not something that can be rushed.
My happiness and mental health are more important than anything else
What is your relationship with ‘self’?
Do you believe you are a victim of unfortunate circumstances? Are you prone to criticism and blaming everyone for your misfortune?
How you think and feel about yourself will always represent how others treat you.
If you wish to change any relationship, assess your attitude towards people and life.
We tend to be so harsh on our choices and past mistakes.
We talk ourselves down and criticize the reflection in the mirror. Those habits cultivate stress in your life.
Compassion is a powerful tool for bettering the quality of your life. Forgive yourself, as well as others.
You are not broken, so there is nothing to be fixed anyway. The only tweak you can make is to give space for your authenticity to thrive.
The most important relationship of my life is the one with myself.
Do you give thanks?
The mesmerizing season of falling leaves is a perfect opportunity to give thanks for all that you have become and the road you have travelled.
Why should we wait for New Year’s Eve to express gratitude?
Start today. Gratitude practice should be a daily ritual to raise your vibrations and tune into a mindset of abundance.
Once you program your mind to pick up on positive things, the brain will become wired for the good in your environment.
Your thoughts create your reality. Meditate on what you have gained and what harvest you are about to reap with your new energy and constructive ideas.
What would you welcome into your life?
Design new habits to build the desired future. Start reading books that support your vision. Eat the food that enhances your health. Develop relationships that support your values.
Gratitude is an empowering human emotion. It turns the ordinary into marvels.
I am open to meeting new people and trying new things.
How do you feel alone?
Fall is the perfect season to embrace solitude. Feeling comfortable alone is a powerful tool in creating an awe-inspiring life.
As the days are getting darker, devote this time to look inwards. How much time do you spend with yourself doing things you love?
- Build self-care rituals. It is okay to crave alone time. Stand up for yourself and speak your truth.
- Express yourself creatively. Do things that open you up to new energy.
- Light the candle, and meditate to the sound of rain or crackling fire. Journal your thoughts. Let it all pour out.
When you change the energy within you, the outside world always follows.
Who is the person you desire to become?
What passion would you pursue if making a living wasn’t your sole purpose in life?
Dare to make changes to your daily routine. Make your favourite meal, even if nobody in the house shares your tastes.
Have you never cooked by yourself? Take your creativity to the next level and experiment in the kitchen.
Make your grandma’s delicious apple pie, or at least give it a try. Then, enjoy your piece of cake and a cup of coffee while sitting on the porch soaking in the breathtaking view of an autumnal burst of colours.
Simple things.
How come we get to sacrifice our respect for ourselves by living up to the expectations of friends, society, family but abandoning what matters to us?
I focus on what makes me happy.
Let your life has its rhythm.
Do not cling to a person or a thing for dear life. It is just a waste of space and energy.
Carry on with the autumn wind and make room for the new to enter your life.
Every event in your life moves to the divine ebb and flow. Do not resist changes, for every ending carries a new beginning.
There seems to be a kind of order in the universe, in the movement of the stars and the turning of the earth and the changing of the seasons, and even in the cycle of human life.
— Katherine Anne Porter
Thank you for being here, — Kate
