The autumn season is full of wonder and magic. Just think of how our senses are engaged during this time of year: the air gets cooler, the leaves change color, apples and pumpkins are at peak tastiness, and the environment is infused with the cozy energy that complements and prepares us for the chillier months to come.

As a financial consultant and part-time herbalist, I am struck by how much nature reflects her wisdom to us at all times. As I always say, how you do anything is how you do everything, and nature is no exception to this. We are surrounded by clues and hints from the natural world at all times. And in this season, there are many lessons to be learned that can be applied to many areas of our life, including our finances. Some of the autumn-themed financial lessons I’ve observed are:

• Balance is key to everything. The first day of fall is an equinox, meaning that there is the exactly same amount of daytime and nighttime. It’s this perfect balance between light and dark that I like to keep in mind when looking at financial strategies. Yes, make sure to save, but also make sure to spend. Invest in boring things that grow slowly and steadily (like bonds) but also invest in things that excite you (like plucky startups or fine art, if that’s your thing). Do work that you enjoy, but also remember to make time for restoration and rejuvenation. Duality in all things is required to create a satisfying, balanced lifestyle.
• Use your energy wisely. There are some plants that thrive in the colder months, and that’s because they don’t waste their energy during unfavorable seasons: you won’t see those plants struggling to adapt and grow in the spring or summer. Likewise, we need to use our energy wisely. Instead of trying to bloom in every season, we should look for the time that is most favorable, and do our best work then. Consider what times of day, month, and year we are most energized (this is particularly relevant to women, who have to consider our monthly cycles and energy levels) and plan around that. When it comes to money, use your energy to develop income sources that won’t constantly deplete your energetic reserves: you want to focus on developing some sources that are passive, and will allow you to use less energy during the times when it’s required. Wisely using your energy is key to living comfortably throughout your years.
• Slowing down doesn’t mean ceasing to exist. The plants that come back to life every spring appear to be dead during the winter. At first glance, these plants appear to be a hopeless case, going from lush green to dry, brown and brittle in the fall. But then, when the necessary amount of time has passed, you’ll see little green shoots and proof of life on these very plants that looked like they’d expired. Likewise, you may find that you’ve been going hard – too hard – to create the things that you dream of. This is easy to do, especially in your wealth-building stages: it can be exhausting to take in a lot of information, experiment with different strategies, go back to the drawing board to modify your approach, then start all over (psst – You don’t have to do this alone). . . After doing all of that, you may one day feel like you can’t take another step. Or, maybe you feel yourself declining, and, before you collapse from the stress, you realize you have to change the pace to preserve yourself. If you ever get to these points . . . Slow down. You can come back stronger and more resilient if you give yourself a chance to rest and regroup. Opportunities are infinite, and you’re better able to take advantage if you aren’t depleted and at your wits end. SLOW DOWN, and get back to your plan when you’re feeling better.
• Embrace change. In autumn, the air goes from warm to cool, bringing in the crispness we’ve come to expect from the season. The leaves go from green to red, orange, yellow and finally brown, and the days have less and less sunshine. Nature shows us that the only constant is change, and embracing it is good for us. Instead of arguing against the cooler air, we wear clothing that makes us feel more comfortable. We enjoy the sunshine while we have it, and appreciate the variety of color the leaves offer us. If we’re wise, we embrace the change and adapt accordingly. When you see that your financial plan has gaps or doesn’t meet your needs, you may need to make some changes. There is wisdom in making adjustments with confidence and calm, instead of agonizing over the “could haves/should haves”. Making changes when appropriate and with an accepting spirit can mean the difference between the life of your dreams and lingering in “someday land”.
• Release anything that isn’t serving you. Speaking of leaves . . . The gorgeous color changes we enjoy in the autumn reminds us that release can be beautiful. Letting go of leaves allows trees to conserve precious energy, with the promise that these leaves will return when the resources and energy are more plentiful. When we release the things that are draining us, or that aren’t serving us, we can use the energy we preserve on things that will support and nurture us. When it comes to money, I checked my investments regularly to make sure that the accounts are growing at a reasonable rate. Anything that is performing poorly over a period of time is released, and I’ll only reconsider when performance improves. Having a healthy level of detachment (which is different from denial or delusion) from our finances allows us to make rational decisions that serve us now and in the future.

Do you have any lessons that you’ve learned from the changing of the seasons? I’d love to hear more about it below!