The leaves are changing. And so should you.
Look, autumn always hits different for me. It’s not just the crisp air or the pumpkin spice lattes everyone raves about. It’s a natural signal. A reminder that change isn’t just coming; it’s essential. It’s happening all around us.
And if you’re anything like I used to be, you might be resisting it. Sticking to the old ways. Making excuses.
But I’m telling you, this season? It’s your prime time for some serious personal growth. No nonsense. No fluff. Just raw, honest self-assessment.
We see the trees shedding their leaves. Getting rid of what’s dead, what’s no longer serving them. Preparing for a leaner, stronger season ahead.
Sound familiar? It should. Because we need to do the exact same thing in our lives.
It’s not always comfortable, I know. Growth rarely is.
It’s a fight. A real fight.
I remember fighting against my own addictions. Gaming. Binge eating. Just pure, unadulterated laziness. It felt impossible to break free. Like those habits were part of me.
But they weren’t. They were just dead leaves I was clinging to.
And letting them go? That’s what made me lose over 110 pounds. It’s what allowed me to build a productive routine. It starts with a choice. A hard choice.
Shedding What No Longer Serves You
First things first: you gotta be brutally honest with yourself. This isn’t about judgment. It’s about clarity.
What habits are you holding onto that are dragging you down? Be specific.
Is it endless scrolling? Late-night TV? That habit of hitting the snooze button five times every morning?
Maybe it’s not even an action. Maybe it’s a thought pattern. A constant negative narrative playing in your head. The one that tells you you can’t. That you’re not good enough.
It’s time to prune that dead wood.
I had to prune a lot of things from my life to get where I am. Cutting out certain foods. Giving up entire evenings wasted on screens. It felt like loss at first. But it was liberation.
It gave me space. Space for what really mattered.
And it’s the same for you. You don’t need that baggage. It’s just weighing you down.
Cultivating New Ground
Okay, so you’ve identified what needs to go. Great. That’s the hard part, right?
Wrong. Now comes the work. The intentional work.
What are you going to plant in that newly cleared ground? What good habits will you cultivate?
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. Small, consistent steps.
For me, it was about building a routine that actually worked. Short, deep work bursts. Two to four hours of focused effort. Then rest. Then repeat.
It wasn’t instant. It took discipline. It took showing up even when I didn’t feel like it. Especially when I didn’t feel like it.
But those small, consistent actions? They compounded. They built something strong. Something resilient.
You need to do the same. Don’t wait for motivation to strike. Create the conditions for it to grow.
The Action List: Your Autumn Growth Plan
Alright, enough talk. Here’s what you can do. Starting now.
- Identify Your Dead Leaf: Pick ONE habit, belief, or activity that’s draining your energy or holding you back. Just one. Be specific.
- Plan Its Removal: How will you consciously stop doing it? Set a clear boundary. For example, “No social media before 9 AM” or “No sugary drinks this week.”
- Choose Your New Seed: Select ONE positive, actionable habit you want to start. Something that serves your growth. Maybe it’s a 15-minute walk. Or reading a chapter of a good book. Or simply planning your next day the night before.
- Schedule It: Literally put this new habit on your calendar. Make it non-negotiable. Treat it like an important appointment.
- Reflect Weekly: Set aside 15 minutes each week to review your progress. What went well? Where did you stumble? Adjust your plan if needed. This isn’t about beating yourself up. It’s about learning.
Embracing the Cycle of Change
This isn’t a one-and-done deal. Personal growth is a cycle. Just like the seasons.
You’ll shed old habits. You’ll cultivate new ones. You’ll face challenges. You’ll stumble. We all do.
My journey strengthening my Christian Orthodox faith taught me that. It’s not a destination you arrive at. It’s a daily walk. A continuous striving. A constant turning back to what’s true and good.
It’s messy. It’s challenging. But it’s worth it. Every single struggle.
So, this autumn, what will you choose to shed? And what new growth will you make space for?
