I love the fall season. It is nature’s way of letting go of that which no longer serves. The trees shed their leaves. The grass gives up its color. And nature itself seems to look inward to its roots. There is no struggle. It is full of ease.

We can learn a great deal from nature at this time of year. To trust that it is okay to let go. To know that what we need will come to us in time. To breathe deeply and slowly and look inward.

Yet sadly, we often end up like a dog with a bone, fighting tooth and nail to hang onto something. It might be your relationship or it might be your job. It could be your money or it could be your fame. These are the things that are usually very apparent. Everybody can see what you’re up to. Sometimes, you can even see it yourself.

However, we frequently (and often subconsciously) cling to something that can harm us much worse than the obvious. We just won’t let go of our notions, our beliefs, or our habits.

I’m not talking about ideals or faith, but about the stories that we make up and tell ourselves. Stories about ourselves, about our world, about the people in it. And much like a child that believes in both Santa Claus and the Boogie-Man, we take these made-up stories for cold hard fact.