The Strength in Letting Go and trusting what come next (and Why October Is the Perfect Time)

Autumn Hues

As we flew home across the English Channel, leaving the summer and sunshine behind us, I knew that the green leaves, would now be shifting into an autumnal hue of oranges, reds, and yellows slowly transforming the trees ahead of the falling of the crisp leaves to come.

The light changes too, softer, golden, somehow more reflective….Nature gently reminds us that endings and beginnings are not separate things, but part of a continuous cycle.

Heading into the final quarter of the year, I always welcome this seasonal reminder to think about what we can take from where we have been and what it’s time to let go of. Trees don’t cling to their leaves out of fear of being bare, they trust that letting go will make way for renewal. Why then, do we so often hold on to the things that no longer serve us?

When we talk about letting go, some people see it as weakness. “Why can’t you just tough it out? Why can’t you stick with it?” but in reality, letting go is a sign of strength. It’s choosing to release what is weighing you down so you can stand taller. It’s trusting that you are capable of growing into something new.

For me, this year has looked very different from any before. After what feels like a lifetime of living by someone else’s rules, guidelines, and goals, I’ve experienced the vulnerability and empowerment of judging what I need to take forward and what I can leave behind based on my own rules and what feels right for me.

Learning to trust your own judgement is not something that comes naturally to most of us. We live in a world where the rules and the guardrails are laid down for us from the very start, what success should look like, what timelines we should follow, what boxes we should tick; stepping outside of that can feel terrifying.

But you already have control over your life, you always have. What stops us isn’t circumstance, it’s fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of being judged, fear of letting people down.  Yet once you let go, you begin to realise something powerful: the only thing holding you back was you.

For me, this past year has been liberating, I’ve discovered new skills, pushed myself further than I thought possible, and experienced life in a new way, free from fear. Maybe not free from fear but no longer held hostage by it, in some ways fear can sit beside me on my journey through life but it no longer takes the wheel.

October is a month of change, reflection, and preparation for the year ahead.  World Mental Health Day (October 10) is a reminder of the importance of protecting our inner world. Mental clutter like doubt, self-criticism, or comparison can be just as heavy as physical clutter. Letting go of those toxic thought patterns is a vital step in creating space for clarity and peace. 

The October New Moon & Solar Eclipse (October 14, 2025) mark an ideal moment for new beginnings. Astrologers talk about eclipses as portals for transformation and whether you’re into that or not, it’s a great symbolic opportunity to pause and ask: What am I ready to release? What new story am I ready to begin? 

And of course, Halloween (October 31) offers its own powerful metaphor. We wear masks and costumes but how often do we wear masks in our daily lives?

-       Pretending we’re fine when we’re not.

-       Pretending to be who we think we “should” be.

This Halloween, maybe it’s worth asking yourself: What masks or costume am I ready to take off?

As I’ve been letting go of the rules that once held me back, I’ve been strengthening my belief in myself, what I am capable of, and what I’m excited to still discover about myself. One of the unexpected joys of my work is that I learn so much from every client and seeing my clients overcome what holds them back fuels my own growth.

Clients often come to me feeling frustrated, stuck in environments or emotions they can’t seem to shift, unsure how to move forward. What amazes me is how quickly things can shift once we start untangling the mental clutter together.  It’s like sweeping away a pile of autumn leaves, suddenly the path is clear, the colours are brighter, and the weight is gone.

My clients leave sessions feeling lighter, clearer, and ready to take on the world.  That’s the beauty of coaching, it’s not about me telling you what to do it’s about giving you the space, the tools, and the support to figure it out, to trust yourself and take those brave steps forward.

Autumn is a great time of year to reflect on where you are, who you want to become, and what you need to do to get there. Think of it as your own seasonal reset, shedding what you don’t need, strengthening what will carry you forward, and stepping into the final months of the year with clarity and purpose.

October is the time to start transformation the world around us is already modelling it beautifully. The leaves fall, the days shorten, and yet life is preparing for renewal.

So, I’ll ask you this:

• What fears or doubts are you ready to release?

• What strengths will you carry with you into the months ahead?

• And what transformation are you ready to begin?

Whether it’s World Mental Health Day, Halloween, or simply a crisp autumn morning walk, this month offers so many reminders, you are allowed to let go, you are allowed to transform, and you are capable of creating the life you want.

October is your time, are you ready to start?