Fall is here with it’s beautiful, colorful leaves. Flew into Chicago last week and the view from the plane was spectacular. Here in Memphis we have some color, however with so much rain and wind, the leaves have blown off or zoomed past ‘peak’ colors.

So what does this have to do with mindset? I observe Fall as a transition and time to let go. Do you approach transitions with curiosity or dread? The leaves are released from the trees to allow for rest, rejuvenation, and preparation for spring growth. Unlike nature, many people continue to add activities to their lives without letting go of something else. There is only so much you can do…

Stress levels are high and there are many areas that can influence stress. When stress is high, the individual is not as fully engaged or productive at their job or even with their family. Yesterday I was discussing these concepts with some entrepreneurs and sales managers and all agreed that constantly focusing on business had reduced their effectiveness, both professionally and personally. Yet, in the U.S., our general business culture or work ethic or business mindset has an expectation of instant response and business first.

As with the fall leaves, what can you let go of to give you more space to rest and create more balance in your life? Giving something up does not mean that it is unimportant or that you no longer care — giving something up is about deciding what is the priority for you. Making choices to say No to a request or canceling a commitment is not selfish… if done with the intention to take care of yourself, then it is self-nurturing. And once you have space to rest, you actually have more to give to others or have increased creative solutions at work.

We can learn a lot from observing how nature processes through cycles. The seasons are a great example of how we can perceive changes in our lives… Fall is about letting go; Winter is about resting and preparing; Spring is about growth and new opportunities; and Summer is about expansion. In our lives, we may move through these changes within a week or month. It could be a year for each season. The insight is to be sure that you are allowing each process to occur. If you skip the Fall and Winter processes, then you reduce the opportunities available to you in the Spring and won’t have the energy for Summer expansion in any aspect of your life.

Explore what you have in your life and choose to let something go! Then enjoy your newly found time by doing something that brings you happiness and joy.