Thoughts on navigating shifting seasons

This week, I noticed the first golden leaves appearing on the ground. A small, gentle reminder that summer is slipping away. And with that, I felt a familiar sadness. 

For me, the end of summer often comes with a mix of emotions. I love the light evenings, the warmth, the ease and freedom of summer days. So when they begin to fade, there’s a pang of loss. There’s also something about this time of year that makes me aware of how quickly the months have passed — the things I thought I’d have “done” by now, the goals I imagined I’d already reached. It can feel like a poignant marker of the passing of time. 

It’s tempting to get caught up in wishing things were different: wishing the year had moved more slowly, wishing I’d “achieved more,” wishing summer could last forever. But the (sometimes painful) truth is, we can’t control the changing of seasons, or the passing of time. 

And here’s what I’m left reflecting on: moving into autumn doesn’t mean we have to force ourselves to feel positive about it. We don’t have to jump straight into “autumn vibes” or pretend we’re excited about shorter days if we’re not. It’s perfectly okay to feel sad. To grieve the passing of summer. To feel resistance to what’s ahead. 

What can make the real difference here is that we can allow space for these feelings and hold them with compassion. 

Because while autumn and winter can feel hard for many of us, those aren’t the only feelings we’ll have. Human experience is thousands of shifting thoughts and emotions every single day. 

Our minds tend to like to over-simplify and categorise experiences (“a good day,” “a bad week,” “a hard month”). And this is not always helpful. 

There may be moments of sadness, yes. AND there will be moments of comfort, joy, connection, and delight. We can experience it all. And in doing so, we can start to notice the gifts hidden within the season, even in the fleeting micro-moments they might appear. 

Embracing the complexity of autumn feelings 

One of the kindest things we can do for ourselves during seasonal change is to stop expecting our emotional landscape to look one way. ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Theory) teaches us that our job isn’t to get rid of “negative” emotions, but to make room for them while still choosing how we want to live. 

Instead of fighting your sadness, you can hold it gently and remind yourself: this too belongs. And alongside that sadness, you can also notice the small sparks of joy or beauty — the crunch of leaves underfoot, the golden light of an afternoon walk, the coziness of a cup of tea when the rain falls on the window. 

This isn’t about forcing positivity.

It’s about widening your lens so sadness isn’t the only thing you see. 

Adapting expectations with compassion 

A struggle often comes when we demand ourselves to operate as if it’s still July. We expect the same energy, the same routines, the same output. But just like nature, we are seasonal beings. 

So, what if you adjusted your expectations instead? 

• Energy: Notice when you feel naturally more tired and allow for rest rather than pushing through. When do you feel most energised? How do you want to make the most of that time?

• Routines: Adapt your exercise, work, and social life to align with what feels good and achievable now, not what worked in summer. 

• Self-talk: Play around with replacing “I should still be able to…” with “Right now, what’s supportive for me is…” 

This kind of seasonal flexibility allows you to keep momentum in your life and business without running into resistance. 

A season of complexity and possibility 

Autumn doesn’t need to be simplified into hard or easy, good or bad. It can be both tender and beautiful, heavy and joyful. 

If we allow space for the full spectrum of emotions, notice the hidden beauty around us, and adapt our expectations with compassion, autumn can become a season of both grounding and growth. 

So as you step into this new chapter, I invite you to ask yourself: 
 

• Where can I allow myself to feel more fully, without judgement? 

• What hidden beauty can I pause and notice today? 

• How can I adjust my routines and expectations so they work with me, not against me, this season? 

And if you’d like support in making this transition more intentional, my Mindset Booster is designed to help you navigate powerful mindset shifts with clarity, kindness, and resilience — so you can find flow even as the season changes.