Did you know that Oak trees have TWO acorn drops per season?
The first earlier on in the year is a release of those seeds that aren’t showing promise to grow to their full potential. These first-droppers are the least healthy, have parasites, or demonstrate a biological weakness that threatens their ability to fully mature. The Oak is literally conserving energy to water and feed those that will “bear fruit”. Nature itself demonstrates the very necessary art of letting go to flourish and invest in those (things) that matter most.
Leaves, on the other hand, bloom in the spring and die off in the fall with only one annual cycle of growth. But Mother Nature’s mission is the same, to conserve energy in order to maintain the foundation of the tree through harsh winter weather.
So… My question for you is, if trees can innately let their dead weight go once a year, why shouldn’t we be able to?
WE CAN! I know it sounds excitingly freeing, doesn’t it? But the truth is, if we start tuning into our heads and hearts it can be pretty clear about what things are no longer “fruitful” for us. Like clients that weigh our branches down throughout the year and cause them to snap when we least expect it, or projects that get buried by the mid-summer overgrowth that really have no reason to come to light again… these are things we can drop for someone else to take on. Or not…
Write About It
As we take our journals out to write our thoughts on the changing of the season in an entirely new year from the past, we not only reflect on the successes and wins but the overripe fruits that are ready to be plucked. Whether for tasting or trashing, we get to choose their fate because, well, we grew them.
My journaling challenge to you is to find 5 things to celebrate as we move into colder temps and shorter days, and equally, five things you no longer want to waste your energy on. Next, craft a plan of how to let them fall gracefully to the ground. There’s really no need for them to come crashing down forcibly into someone else’s leaf pile but instead can be thoughtfully released back to the earth to be reabsorbed and fertilize stored potential for either future you or someone else entirely.
After writing out your plan of release, start taking action to let go. You will not only be more hopeful for the remaining year but will feel the benefits of the investment you just committed to yourself mentally, emotionally, personally, and professionally. Even changes that are small can have profound impacts on your life like the simple crunchy, brown leaf that bids farewell to lessen the load and serve a new purpose in its next stage of the journey.
I hope you too enjoy this stage of your journey and gain insights this season for what is yet to come!