We welcome the month of September with the transition of elements from Fire to Metal. Metal is the element that teaches us the power of letting go. As the season begins to shift, we’re encouraged to release old habits and beliefs that no longer support our wellbeing – creating space and clarity for something new to emerge.

Lately, I’ve been consciously working on letting go of old emotional patterns that still rise up from time to time. Rather than judging them, I’m learning to simply notice them, understand where they came from, and gently reframe them in a way that reflects the truth of who I am today. It’s an important practice, because the negative patterns and beliefs we hold can quietly keep us stuck. We all have them, but until we bring awareness to them, we often accept them as truth

I’ve been listening to a meditation over the past few nights that conveys a simple yet powerful message: let go so you can move forward. It raised an important question for me – How do I actually let go? And what does letting go truly look like in real time?

I’m beginning to understand that letting go begins with noticing the moment I’ve slipped out of alignment and into an old fear-based pattern. When I can see it clearly, I can choose differently. For example, the old belief might sound like, “I am not worthy of financial success.” But the truth is that we are all worthy of creating abundance and success in our lives. The challenge is learning to recognize the old belief and consciously choose to return to what we know is true.

Here are three thoughtful ways to begin a practice for yourself:

  • Notice what triggers you. Pay attention to the moments when you feel yourself shift out of your truth and into old pattern or belief rooted in fear or doubt.
  • Sit with the feeling. Rather than judging or resisting it, simply acknowledge it. Remind yourself, this is an old pattern – this is not who I am today.
  • Choose a truer, better-feeling thought. Reach for a thought that aligns more closely with who you know yourself to be, and anchor it in. Each time you practice, it becomes easier to find your way back.

Perhaps the doorway to letting go is actually surrender—recognizing what we can control, and releasing what we cannot. As we move into the season of Metal, consider asking yourself: What am I ready to release so I can move forward with greater freedom, clarity, and peace?

Sometimes, letting go isn’t about losing something. It’s about making room for what is ready to come next.

In wellbeing,

Betsy