Letting go gracefully, with the Fall season

Seasonal change and spiritual growth.

We’ve all loved the gorgeous and calming change of the season from Summer to Fall.

One thing to note though… we can be so dazzled by the goldening and reddening of trees, the coziness of Fall decor, the luscious smells of Autumn spices, and the almost-there-excitement of the holiday season, that we can easily forget how the Fall season should also help us in our personal growth and spiritual self-care.

As we shift our energies to embrace the Fall season, here are three tips to help you embody the surrendering spiritual practice of letting go alongside Autumn’s falling leaves.

The Little Way of Living With Less: Learning to Let Go With the Little Flower by Laraine Bennett.

Clean out your closets.

Clean out and donate unused and unloved items from your closets.

Start with your wardrobe closet, your shoe closet, or your miscellaneous storage closet.

Go through every nook of your closet, one item at a time.

Be honestly critical of how useful or how beloved each item has been in your life recently.

Take each item out, hold onto it, think about it, and answer truthfully:

Has this item served a real practical or irreplaceably sentimental purpose recently?

Why am I truthfully still hanging on to this?

How would my life be affected if I let this go?

I like the book above with its Catholic-centered way of approaching decluttering and minimalism. Now is a perfect time to unburden ourselves with the the weight of our possessions to make way for the Advent season.

Closet clean out tip: : If you haven’t used it within the last four seasons, you probably won’t use it in the next four seasons. Let it go. Let someone else have it. Give it away to someone else who needs it more, someone who will use it more often. It’s better to let go and let someone else make better use of it than just having all those things take up space as clutter in your closet, just unnoticed and unloved.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew." 6:31-34

Clean out your calendar.

Take an honest look at your calendar. How many appointments, events, and commitments do you have scheduled in the next three months?

Which of those calendar bookings do you really have to attend?

Highlight the calendar commitments that you unavoidably have to keep.

Then cross out the events that are optional - those events that “would be nice to attend, but don’t have to attend.”

For the sake of more rest, and gifting your self invaluable free time, give yourself permission to gracefully bow out of unnecessary commitments.

Use this free space in your calendar to spend more time with the Lord. You can now carve time on your calendar more meaningful commitments to nurture your faith this upcoming holiday season: sacred time for solemn prayer, Holy Adoration, attending daily Mass, praying the rosary, joining a fellowship group, or reflecting on an Advent devotional.

Calendar clean out tip: It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to say I change my mind. It’s okay to say, this won’t work for me after all. It’s ok to say, something else came up. It’s okay to say, I need to clear out this part of my day. An integral part of spiritual self-care is the responsibility and the courage to say no to this world, and say yes to more personal time with the Lord.

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." - 2 Corithians 9:6-8

Clean out your wallet.

I mean, give money.

Actually, I encourage you to give more money.

But don’t just write a check, or click on any GoFundMe button.

Give so lovingly, more generously, and wholeheartedly.

This season is a chance to donate extra money to a charity close to your heart.

Know someone or a cause who needs financial support? Send them some.

Here’s how to take it even further, and go the extra mile: Tell a person who owes you money they’re now free from having to pay you back.

One of the most powerful acts of self-giving is the practice of letting go of our attachment to money.

Let us practice having the heart to let go of our worldly goods, so that we may truly enrich our lives and our spiritual paths with less love for money, and more love for God.

Now, you’re wondering how much exactly to give?

While it shouldn’t prevent you from providing for your family and your basic life necessities, you know you’re stretching yourself to be spiritually generous, if it stings to give that much.

In other words, don’t give beyond your means, but give beyond your comfort.

Wallet clean out tip: Surrender your closeness and fondness to amassing wealth, and notice how the act of letting go and possessiveness of money makes you feel. What comes up for you when it comes to money and giving more generously? How does letting go of your monetary and physical “treasures” leave you?

On letting go.

I pray these examples of cleaning out and letting go - synchronized with the Autumn season and its imagery of “leaves falling away” - help you discard the items, commitments, and attachments in your life that are only taking up space in your home, your calendar, your priorities, and ultimately - your heart.

You’ll likely find that getting rid of physical possessions, excessive appointments, and emotional attachments will leave you with more peace of mind, and more space to focus on what matters: loving the Lord.

Most importantly, as you practice letting go this Fall season, may you notice and enjoy the restored time and space for God to dwell more prominently in your life.