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Living Life's Seasons: Flowing Through Change For Personal Growth
- Jeannie Dafforn
- Sep 15
- 4 min read
Life's Seasons
As the leaves start to turn and the days grow shorter, I always feel a little tug-of-war inside. For years, I resisted the change of seasons — both in nature and in my own life. Fall in particular was hard. On the outside, I kept pushing, striving, chasing validation, afraid that if I slowed down I’d fall behind. On the inside, I secretly craved the ease and calm that autumn seemed to promise. The cozy evenings, the slower pace, the permission to rest. But instead of leaning into that rhythm, I fought it. I thought slowing down meant I wasn’t enough, that I’d lose momentum. Over time, though, I’ve learned that fall isn’t about losing — it’s about letting go. And when I finally allowed myself to embrace that, I discovered the season I once resisted was the very one I needed most.
Here's the thing...
Nature doesn't resist the seasons.
Trees don't cling to their leaves in the fall.
Bears don't argue about needing rest in the winter.
Flower's don't second guess whether they're blooming too late in spring.
But us? We push back. We ignore. We pretend.
We try to stay in "Summer" all year long. Busy, productive, active. Even when our bodies and minds are clearly craving the slow down. of fall or the rest of winter.
Life moves in cycles just like the seasons. And when we learn to flow with those cycles instead of fighting them, we honor ourselves and find a rhythm that feels sustainable.
🍂 The Fall, Letting Go
Fall is nature’s lesson in release. The trees let go of their leaves, not because they’re broken or failing, but because it’s the only way they can conserve energy and prepare for what’s next.
In our lives, fall can mean letting go of the “shoulds,” the constant proving, or the commitments that drain us. It’s not about giving up — it’s about making space. What if you did the same?
Maybe that looks like letting go of a draining commitment, an outdated “should,” or even the self-criticism that’s been weighing you down.
❄️ Winter: Rest & Reflection
Winter is nature’s invitation to pause. Shorter days and quieter rhythms remind us that stillness has purpose.
Rest isn’t wasted time. It’s what allows for recovery and growth. Just like the earth restores itself in winter, you need recovery seasons too.
🌱 Spring: Renewal & Growth
Spring is all about fresh starts. Energy returns, buds push through the soil, color and possibility fill the air. Everything is new again.
In your life, spring might look like starting a new habit, setting an intention, or finally acting on an idea that’s been waiting in the wings.
☀️ Summer: Joy & Energy
Summer is the season of abundance. It’s when the work of earlier seasons comes to life! Longer days, connection, activity, and joy.
For us, summer is when we get to thrive in what we’ve built — enjoy the fruits of our labor, share them with others, and live with lightness. It’s the season of doing and celebrating. It’s what makes the other seasons meaningful.
...And then the cycle begins again. Each season feeding into the next, none more important than the other.
Flowing Through Change
The seasons don’t compete with each other. They don’t rush ahead or cling to what’s past. One flows into the next, each with its own role to play.
Our lives work the same way. There are times for letting go, times for resting, times for beginning again, and times for celebrating. When we resist the season we’re in, we end up drained, frustrated, and out of sync. But when we flow with it — even if it’s uncomfortable at first — we discover a rhythm that feels more natural, more sustainable, and more kind.
You don’t need to stay in “summer mode” all year to prove you’re enough. Slowing down in fall, resting in winter, and starting fresh in spring are just as much a part of thriving as the high energy of summer.
The invitation is this: notice the season you’re in right now — both in nature and in your own life — and ask yourself how you can align with it instead of fighting against it. Because just like the seasons outside your window, you were never meant to stay the same.
Explore Your Own Seasons
If you’d like to take this deeper, spend a few minutes with these questions. Notice what resonates most with the season you’re in right now:
Fall 🍂 — Letting Go: What could I release that no longer serves me and is weighing me down?
Winter ❄️ — Rest & Reflection: Where in my life am I craving rest, and what would it look like to give myself permission to take it?
Spring 🌱 — Renewal & Growth: What seeds of possibility am I ready to plant or nurture right now?
Summer ☀️ — Joy & Energy: What abundance can I pause to celebrate and enjoy in this moment?
And if you’re tired of doing all the emotional heavy lifting on your own—this is exactly the kind of thing I help my clients with.
You don’t have to power through.
You can pause, process, and still rise stronger.