What Trees Can Teach Us About Letting Go
As the seasons shift and the natural world slows down, there’s a quiet invitation for us to do the same. Winter has a way of asking us to pause, reflect, and — perhaps most importantly — release.
But what does that really mean?
Clinical Hypnotherapist and Craniosacral Therapist Suzanna Forest shares a beautiful metaphor that may offer guidance:
🌳 “Look to the trees.”
Letting Go Is Natural — Just Ask the Trees
In the hustle of modern life, it’s easy to overlook the wisdom in nature. Trees don’t rush. They don’t resist. As the days grow shorter and the cold sets in, they instinctively let go — of their leaves, their energy output, their outward expression.
Meanwhile, as humans, we tend to do the opposite.
We pile on:
Layers of clothing
To-do lists
Social obligations
Emotional pressure
But what if this winter, instead of doing more, you chose to release?
Reflection Through the Lens of Mindfulness
In a recent meditation class, the word “release” was offered as a prompt. The experience led to a powerful question — one Suzanna often explores with clients at the start of their healing journey: What would you most like to release?
Whether it’s:
Guilt or self-judgment
The need to constantly produce
Habits that no longer serve you
Emotional stories from the past
Letting go creates space: space to rest, reset, and reconnect with what truly matters.
“While we are piling on, the trees are letting go.”
— Suzanna Forest
