New Season, Newfound Trust: Lessons from Fall on Surrender
Hey, Audacious You!
It’s good to reconnect with you in this latest edition of our long overdue post. In it, I reflect on the importance of surrender–and its companion, TRUST–in the new fall season.
Autumn Lessons on Surrender
Maybe for you, too, the transition from hot summer days to the cool, crisp autumn stirs deep reflection. Nature is such a masterful teacher and autumn, with its changing beauty, is a tangible reminder that surrender is a part of life’s rhythm.
The season illustrates what it means to release: the trees do not cling to their leaves, they let them go with grace. Such is the evolutionary mandate, the pull, of the season.
Autumn beckons us to do the same—to loosen our grip, to trust the cycle, and to honor the wisdom of letting go.
As a life coach, I support my clients (and myself!) with a mindset shift that even as we set important goals and strive for them, life does not always unfold in neat, predictable lines.
Turbulence is part of the journey, too. Sometimes, the outcomes are unknown. Sometimes, the ground beneath us feels unsteady. And yet, there is wisdom in the very process of life that is asking us to trust.
What It Means to Trust
I am reminded by these powerful words on trust by spiritual teacher Iyanla Vanzant:
“Trust is not about being comfortable. It is about being willing to move beyond your comfort zone when there is absolutely no evidence that you will be supported. Trust is not about looking for evidence that you are doing things right every step of the way as you move toward the end result. Trust is about keeping the end results in mind no matter what steps you have to take to get there, or how bad you feel while you are stepping…”
This is the invitation of the season: keep stepping, keep moving, in trust of self and of the unceasing process that is life.
A “Pause & Reflect” Exercise
Take a moment to reflect on these questions to grapple with and bolster your self-trust:
• Where in your life are you being challenged to let go, even if it feels uncomfortable?
• How can you anchor yourself in trust rather than fear, remembering that every season has purpose
• What practices help you stay present when you cannot see the full picture ahead?
You might find it helpful to jot down your reflections. Be empowered by what emerges.
A Simple Practice
Here’s a simple practice to try this month to strengthen your relationship with to trust:
When you notice yourself spiraling in worry about what’s next,
• Pause
• Place a hand over your heart, and whisper, “I trust myself. I trust the process. I am supported.”
• Let those words ground you.
• With the end in mind, keep stepping, keep moving!
A Closing Affirmation
🍁 May your October be a time of
release, renewal, and radical trust in life’s unfolding. 🍁
Also by Life Coach Glenda M. Francis: Fall Forward: 4 Steps to Getting Back on Track & Crushing Your Fall Goals
Need more support to surrender and build trust to move forward? We’re here to help and only a click away. Contact us.
About Glenda M. Francis
Glenda M. Francis is the founder & CEO of Audacious Inner Works Institute, a personal development and capacity building service organization based in New York. She is an ICF credentialed life coach specializing in pivoting (getting unstuck), confidence building, and women’s wellness and power. Glenda is deeply committed to supporting Black women to unpack pain, rewrite scripts, and thrive as architects of their lives. Contact Glenda for coaching, consulting, or speaking engagements.