Getting Focused With Fall

This time of year, I hear so many people professing their undying love for fall, their “favorite!” season. My relationship with fall isn’t quite so cut-and-dry. I’m naturally more of a free-spirited, summer girl. I love summer’s sunshine and bright colors, fresh flowers and spaciousness.

Yet as the days grow shorter and the leaves begin to turn, fall offers a natural counterpoint to the big, extroverted energy of summer.

Summer’s big parties give way to quiet tea dates. Exciting new ideas start coming to life through day-to-day actions. It is both a soft and productive time of year for me.

Over the years I have learned to deeply appreciate the innate value of the fall season. I now understand and look forward to it as a time to ground and balance myself after the big, nourishing, high energy of summer.

As the fall season begins, it invites us to shift our attention from summer’s extroversion into a more quiet, focused, and grounded space — in our hearts, in our homes, and in our lives.

Intention is the thread woven between your space and your situation.     Click To Tweet

Fall is the season for what I call “Interior Intention.” In short, this is the process of turning within, asking ourselves what we really want in life, and making sure our spaces reflect and support our biggest dreams, values, and desires. (Read all about this and the 4 other keys to “Wake Up and Love Where You Live” in my free e-book. Sign up to receive your copy at the top right of this page!)

Fall offers several opportunities for us to bring Interior Intention to life, in deep and tangible ways. Tap into one of the following that most calls your name … or cycle through the entire progression throughout the season:

1. Turn Within and Reflect.

As shadows lengthen, leaves turn, and the big energy of summer settles, fall invites us into a more contemplative way of being. I feel drawn to soften…quieting my mind, and turning within. Meditation, prayer, and setting intentions all feel easier and more necessary in this season, for me.

2. Clarify Priorities and Set Intentions.

Once we turn within and reflect, fall invites us into a discernment process. It asks us two crucial questions: What truly matters most to me? And: Why is this important?

Fall’s energy gives us an opportunity to step into being more present, sharpening our focus, and getting deliberate about sifting through what’s working and what’s not working, in our lives.

3. Shed Layers that No Longer Serve You.

As we clarify what matters most to us, it’s natural to identify some things that we’re ready to release. Projects that no longer deserve our attention; friendships we’ve outgrown; clothes, recurring coffee dates, or old priorities that simply don’t serve, anymore.

We enjoy an external reflection of this, as leaves begin to fall. This season, ask yourself: What “leaves” am I ready to let loose from my life? Allow the inner reflection of fall support and guide any decisions you need to make around what needs releasing and/or letting go of. (And remember…take special care to be gentle and compassionate with yourself. Even the smallest transitions can trigger a grieving process.)

4. Get Focused and Organized.

Once you’ve turned within, discerned what truly matters to you, and released what doesn’t, it’s time to get to work creating your life with clear intention. Fall’s crisp air and grounded energy can support us in checking things off our To Do lists and tying up loose ends.

I think much of this energy stems from the childhood back-to-school memories that fall conjures: I loved the ritual of getting pretty new notebooks and working hard to better myself. As adults, fall remains one of the most productive times of the year for many of us. So … pull out your checklist. Set aside some time to clean out your closet. Tie up those loose ends and free up your energy by closing circles. Assign small, do-able action steps to each of your intentions … and place that list in a highly visible place (on your fridge or desk.)

5. Get Grounded and Present Before the Holiday Craziness.

The Holiday season is a wonderful time — yet it can also be stressful and taxing. That’s why I find it so important to prepare during fall: to take time for quiet, self-care, and connecting with myself. The more authentic moments I can create during the fall season, the more resourced and clear-headed I can be during the Holidays.

Especially if you’re naturally introverted or chronically stressed, take some time this season to store up your reserves. Go to bed a little earlier, make that home-cooked stew, or perhaps trade a night out for a night in cuddled up on the couch.

Here’s to wishing you the most abundant and cozy fall, ever!

Stay Tuned! Next week, I’ll share my favorite ways to translate this inner work into tangible practices for your home and life!

TAKE ACTION!

In Your Home: You’ve got some reflecting to do … so create a cozy, contemplative spot for it in your home. Adorn it with a candle, a blanket, and your favorite books or journal.

In Your Heart: Breathe into your heart. What are you being drawn to, this season? More dinner parties, more solitude, less rushing? Pick 1-3 big themes for this fall, and brainstorm a few simple ways to honor them.

In the Comments:  Does this season’s energy strike you as quiet and focusing, or something else, entirely? How do you love honoring the energy of fall?

Sending love,

Rebecca

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