Autumn…I absolutely love this time of year for so many reasons. Summer is always great with longer days and a feeling of more space as we spill out into the garden, experience mostly(!) sunshiny days, go on holidays, visit nice places and take trips to the ocean. Autumn feels a bit more contained. The weather starts to get a little colder, we spend less time outside and the nights are drawing in, meaning cosy sofa evenings in with popcorn and movies!
To me, autumn is a bit of a ‘re-set’ time of year. Celebrating the great times and successes experienced in the year so far and reflecting on some of the challenges experienced during that time.
As I let my mind wander this morning, I thought back to a walk I had in the park with my hubby last weekend. Skies were bright blue, the sun was shining but nevertheless, autumn subtly made its presence known. Leaves crunching under my shoes, shiny conkers on the ground and beautifully coloured leaves slow dancing in the air and on the floor, were a sure reminder that autumn is here. But what struck me the most were the trees. With less leaves on, the trees showed their preparation for their ‘re-set’ period.
Often with the busyness of life, we can end up accumulating stuff which stays stuck to us. Stuff in our minds, stuff in our lives, stuff! Day after day, week after week, month after month, things keep piling up which can often leave us feeling overwhelmed and foggy. The foggy feeling can be paralysing and clouds our view and our judgement, making us unable to see anything else clearly.
Talking of fog, did you know that if you were to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool with fog and then somehow condense it, you would be left with around 1.25 litres of water? That’s just over 2 pints. Can you believe it?!
Well…stuff that we accumulate along the way in our minds and in our lives, has the same effect as the fog that in reality if condensed takes up very little space in comparison to the big impact it could have. Small stuff turns into bigger stuff, piles of stuff, mounds of stuff which ends up effecting every aspect of our lives. It spreads!
It’s often difficult to find the time to sit and reflect and to have a good de-clutter and a re-set of this stuff, but, I can vouch for it, the energised and positive mindset you get having done it makes it so worth it.
Yes, I hear you….‘Yea right, when on earth am I going to find time to reflect and de-clutter?’ When we feel foggy and overwhelmed, we convince ourselves that finding time is impossible. We start over thinking things, feeling guilty and worrying what people may think if we say no to something. Realistically, the world won’t stop spinning if we say no to something, but we often aren’t in the right place at the time to see things in perspective.
Be bold and protect some time for YOU. Start that time by thanking God for all the blessings in your life. Often, the fog prevents us seeing the abundance that we really do have. Then ask the holy spirit to reveal the stuff that’s in your life and mind causing the fog. Close your eyes and imagine each of them like leaves, falling off a tree. See the words of the stuff written on each leaf. See it falling off of you to the foot of the cross. Unlike trees that naturally shed their leaves in autumn, we have a choice. That is to remain in that place where you can’t see the wood for the trees or to get rid, re-set and feel the freedom God willingly gives.
And then, relax and celebrate. Let’s be determined and choose to let go and let God!
Love
Angelina x
Inspiring Radiance 