The Art of Falling to Rise
Oh fall, what a season you are. You’re stretching, pushing, challenging, and moving me.
I’ve witnessed the dark valleys of life I thought I wouldn’t walk through again. But by the grace of God, I’ve found the strength to push through. I’m forced to face these feelings – to sit with them and welcome them. To give them a safe space and allow them to show up.
Like a leaf surrendering to the wind, I release what no longer serves me. I let go, submitting to the quiet grace of a sacred descent. With this fall, I have no fear; I wrap myself in trust.
Trust that this descent is not a plummet and crash – it will not be detrimental and catastrophic. This descent is the catalyst for transformation.
We are kicking off the peak of autumn with a series that encapsulates the art of releasing, surrendering, rising, and emerging. The beautiful juxtaposition of the falling of leaves to the phoenix rising from the ashes. Inviting the flame-tinged, amber rust, ember glow hues to remind us of the fierce rising we are capable of. If only we could embrace our fall like a flame-colored leaf carried by the wind – letting go not in defeat, but as the first spark of becoming all that we are.
Over the next several weeks I will be sharing more about my journey and thoughts toward this season of releasing and rising, surrendering and emerging.
I invite you to boldly say yes to this journey as well. Let these words sink in. In the exact way they do for me as I write. This is a very raw look into my own healing process. We are here together. Never alone.
I want to start this series at the end of this process of “Falling to Rise.”
We can first notice the goal, the beauty of this process, and the purpose of releasing… the RISE that awaits.
How do you envision this emergence of a renewed and empowered you? How do they feel? How do they approach the day? What are they doing? Do they look different? What are their goals and dreams?
It’s uncomfortable to sit and think about this hypothetical “you”. Try it anyway. Be patient through the discomfort. Trust me, many times I avoid the act of getting still and reflecting. However, when I do this introspection of what the highest and best version of myself is like, I feel this sense of reclaimed power and trust in who I am and can become. This is the act of reclaiming your very essence.
When we release the pain, past, thoughts, fears, memories, individuals, expectations, etc. that no longer serve us, we create space that allows us to rise. Sometimes we feel like the art of letting go is much more complicated and even impossible. We find it easier and more comfortable to stay in this suffering. We grip and hold on tight, even though the wind is calling us to go somewhere else; somewhere new and better. Sometimes the rise seems too good to be true, but I promise it is not. I’m in this very process of understanding the purpose of letting go, falling, and releasing. So often, I find myself fighting back – knuckles turning white as I firmly grip on to the familiar home I've built out of suffering. Somehow, it feels safer than the “what if” that comes with letting go.
Over the next few weeks, I am challenging myself to make space for the Art of Falling. Gently reminding myself that after the fall comes a beautiful emergence: a rising, a becoming, an empowering.
May this be a gentle whisper of wind — giving you comfort in knowing you are not alone — and that in your own time, you will be ready to embrace the release and trust that the rise from the ashes awaits you.
xox, j