The Fall season
is my favorite time of year. It is a special time of the year, especially in
New England. The trees produce a stunning explosion of color as the leaves
change from green through yellow, orange, red and then turning to brown before
falling to the ground. Trees are a wonderful example of the cyclical nature of
life. No other season teaches us so many profound lessons about life.

Here are five
life lessons that the fall season teaches us.

1. Embrace the
change

Fall reminds us
of the impermanence of life. It reminds us that change is inevitable! You’d
think we’d get the hang of dealing with change yet it brings with it such fear
that we can go to extraordinary lengths to avoid it. Fall shows us that far
from shunning change natures achieves this transition effortlessly.

Fall shows us
how to embrace change in glorious splendor. It reminds us to accept and flow
with the change. Just like the falling leaves you have to let go in order to
move forward, grow and heal. Periods of transition and change are often fraught
with pain and crisis. But mindset is everything – if you can surrender to that
change, trust the process, believe that the universe is working with you and
that everything is happening for a reason then you can see your pain and accept
change on a more comfortable setting. You can also sit in the knowledge that
when the time is right you too will spring back to life and bloom again.

2. Learn to let
go

Fall reminds us
of the importance of letting go. It shows us that within the cycle of life
there comes a time to let go and release those things that no longer serve us.
Human nature encourages us to hold tightly to things and yet Fall shows us how
to transition and surrender through this process in glorious technicolor.

All too often
we cling to the past, hold our wounds tightly and get fixed and locked down
with certain habits or mindsets. All of these ultimately cause us more
suffering. Life is happier and easier when we can flow, surrender and let go.

3. The metaphor
of healing

The four seasons
are great metaphors on the process of pain and healing. When life throws us
into chaos we tumble into the change and transition of Fall. When we are
wounded and hurt we retreat and hunker down in the darkness of Winter. But
there comes a time, just like Spring when we slowly start to re-emerge before
the time comes when we finally lift our heads to the sun and emerge once again
in the sunshine and laughter of Summer.

Wherever you
are in this cycle try to surrender and flow with it. Trust that there is a
process and journey to healing and rebirth. Healing is not linear it has peaks
and troughs, highs and lows. Know that hindsight will give you many answers and
that one day you will be able to back at a difficult time in life with insight.
Often our darkest hours are the reason we shine so brightly.

4. Delight in
the detail

Fall is a
beautiful time and yet most of us go about our lives too busy and distracted to
notice. Use this stunning season as a reminder to live more mindfully. To take
a slower and more mindful pace to life and to notice the detail. Pay attention
to the colors of the sky, the falling leaves, the sound of frost beneath your
feet. The birds whose songs still chirrup bright and clear. Wherever you live
to make it a habit to notice the changes taking place in the natural world
around you.

5. Enjoy the
little things in life

Finally, the
fall season gives us a chance to appreciate the little things in life. A cup of
hot aromatic tea, a warm blanket, a good book – these simple things can make us
truly happy after being outdoors in the autumn cold. With the chilly weather
and depressing images the fall brings to us, you realize the great power the
little joys of life have.

Whether you
like the fall season or not, you can’t deny that the lessons it teaches us
about life are insightful and important.