Autumn is often thought of as a time of harvest, gathering and celebration. It is also the end of Summer, a time of increasing darkness and a season to connect with those we have lost. This season is one of abundance as well as letting go. Finding this balance within our own lives allows us to move more fluidly with what is happening around us and within us. So how do we find that balance? I find that the clearest way to see what areas need attention in our lives, is to give focus to the ones that we resist looking at the most. For some this could be how hard to see the sun fading, the loss of warmth, the leaves falling. This may be because it reminds us of aging and the way that we see that in our culture. Autumn could also be difficult because it leads us towards holidays that are usually associated with family, which, if those relationships are challenging, could mean leading us towards a time of stress and frustration. Looking at why we are resistant to the external changes around us, can give us insight into areas of our hearts that need more inspection. If aging is hard to think about, consider why. Does it create fear? What might you be afraid of? What are your fears based on? How can you think differently? Understanding our fears takes the sting out of them and allows us to create new perspectives. If we refuse to even look at the resistance or fear, then we remain stuck. If family is challenging this time of year, how could you change that? Sometimes just softening our hearts, being the one to choose flexibility or being curious instead of judging can change the whole dynamic. Often the change we are looking for is the one that we can make by choosing something new instead of expecting someone else to change. 
As the trees lose their leaves they are making way for new growth next Spring. They are allowing nature to prepare them for good things and a season of growth and fruit. What can you let go of this season to prepare for new growth and fruit in your life? What would it take to make that choice?
As always, if you are looking for support as you make change and choose transformation, I am here for you.

I recently read an article about false positivity and spiritual bypassing. It was a great read and I totally recommend it. You can read it HERE
Working with a client recently, we were talking about this and how in order to feel spiritual it can sometimes means trying to "muscle" our way into higher vibration or a more spiritual mindset. I see that this is where this "false positivity" comes into play, when we want to be happy/high vibe so badly that we become disconnected from the actual struggles, learning or challenges that must be faced in order to grow and become the full expressions of ourselves.
We are tempted to disown parts of ourselves that do not "glitter or shine", assuming that if we acknowledge our "dirt" that we will be disqualified from  the "shiny happy people club".
I compare this kind of "spirituality-lite" to buying cut flowers, popping them in a vase and enjoying the quickly fading sense of happiness or spiritual connection, as if it were the real thing. The real thing is in the garden, the flowers need food, water, cultivation and sunshine. We have to pull weeds, deal with insects, carefully tend new growth and prune away what is no longer needed. They appear to wither, only to return more beautiful, living each moment in season. Deep roots mean stronger plants, some are heat tolerant, others tolerate the cold....I'm sure you're getting the full picture that this metaphor provides. Cut flowers are beautiful, they are the peak of all that is perfect, yet meant for display only. Their beauty fades, longevity is not part of the appeal.
One path to genuine spirituality and deep roots is the path of Trust and Surrender. Trust is a difficult road, it goes beyond how we feel about people or even how we feel about ourselves. It may be easy to trust someone who hasn't betrayed you, yet. It may be impossible to trust anyone because the seed of distrust has always been there since childhood. Humans are inconsistent, selfish, forgetful and difficult to rely on. We create an expectation of what things should be like in a "trusting" relationship and then are disappointed by the very humanness of the people involved.
When I talk about Trust and Surrender, I am talking about Allowing & Acceptance. The only way that I can trust others is by trusting in the Divine (insert preferred word: God, Love, The Universe etc). If I believe/trust that I am loved, cared for and held by a power greater than myself or this physical world, then what humans do is of no concern. If I believe/trust that everything is going according to a great plan that I am intrinsically a part of, then I can accept each and every step of the way as one that is for my best and highest good. This belief allows me to step into the sweetly flowing river of life and relax into the current, knowing that I will get where I am meant to go, and that the timing of everything will be perfect. This does not mean that I will not experience hardship, frustration, illness, pain or grief along the way. This does mean that those things when encountered, will be for my best highest good and that it is up to me to learn the lesson, develop deep roots and continue to surrender to the flow. 

So what does this feel like in daily living?
​Stay tuned for my next post on Overcoming Resistance & Releasing Control