From small crops to big business, risk and reward go hand in hand. Though fall is a time characterized by its own set of distinctive traits, it is often seen as a gateway to winter, which has a way of taking a harsh toll on the earth. The season is known to be as similarly difficult in business and the economy. As the implication of the harsh cold and the blistering snow sends nature's creatures into hibernation, the same forecasts have a similar effect on the barren fields of our more mundane institutions. By itself, it is a wonderful season, but it generates a mood that can often feel bleak, since what follows is not a time of burgeoning growth. In this, it becomes all too easy to feel anxious and hesitant for the times ahead during the harvest, letting the bountiful opportunities of the fall pass us by.

While unsettling at times, risk is similarly associated with uncertainty, but we know it also has the potential of yielding the greatest reward. And, it is by understanding nature that we can learn to master our expectations--for it is now, as we collect the harvest, that we see the fruit of our labor as the products that also survived last year's winter.

Indeed, we can employ this wisdom as we contemplate our strategies in life. Sure there will be winters, but without them, could there be a spring? If the results of our efforts fall short one year, we can understand these cycles in this way. Perhaps it is hard, but we need to appreciate the falling leaves for what they are. Ultimately we must keep this all in perspective and we must find the balance between healthfully yearning and harboring disappointment in the process of moving forward and achieving more.

To live skillfully, maintaining this perspective is key in preparing for the inevitability of loss, and the loss of movement that will take place in the months ahead is no exception. To deny the existence of the darker elements of life is to live blindly. In the words of Eckhart Tolle, 'To live in resonance and harmony with all living things by definition includes periods of suffering.' The darkness may be something to fear, but preparation and right perspective can help us master it.

Don't let the possibility of loss and despair risk the fortitude of your ambitions. Furthermore, your true goals will be even more satisfying when you appreciate each step along the way. Our lives will continue more smoothly when we graciously accept the bumps and remain in compliance with nature's laws. Make this a harvest to enjoy both the pleasure of consumption and the promise of conservation.

Question:

I'm opening a new business and I'm trying to get it up and running by the end of the year. I thought that I would be finished by now, but everything is moving slower than I expected and seems to be continuing that way. How do I motivate those around me to pick up the pace and get back on track to be up and running when originally planned?

Answer:

Stop for a moment and think about how much hard work you're putting into developing your own business. That must feel very good for the most part. Clearly, it is important to you. However, think about the consequences of imposing an "expiration date" on the process. Ultimately this serves to undermine all that's been done and may seriously compromise the end result. I would encourage you to keep preparing for your business' opening, but adjust to the ups and downs of the pace, just like you tolerate, perhaps enjoy, the various attributes of each of the four seasons. It would be wise to embrace this sluggish time as enthusiastically and graciously as the preparation and hard work that preceded it.  

It is common, though odd, that our expectations for our businesses and other projects rarely reflect the ebb and flow that we see all around us. While it is ok to set some expectations and to track your progress accordingly, it is essential that these expectations are realistic. And success is not measured simply by how close you remain to this timeline. Other variables might arise that require your attention and these "storms" may actually guide you to an even better outcome. In the end, periods of slowing down are normal, even welcome, as they provide opportunities for reflection and reevaluation.

One more thing...what if you were on time, would that guarantee success? It might be wisest to see the journey to your goal as the destination itself, since you may never attain exactly what you desired at first. What you end up with may even be better, and knowing and understanding that is the most skillful thing you could hope for. Indeed, I wish you the good fortune to see this work out in your life.

• The last three episodes of The Skillful Living Room are available here .   

• Join us for The Skillful Living Room live on November 5th, as we welcome Kelley Black, Founder of Balancing the Executive Life and Naam Coaching US, while we explore the philosophies of Naam Yoga as they relate to health and wellness. 

• The next meeting of the SunRaven Dream Group with Warren Falcon will take place on Tuesday November 1st beginning at 7:30PM. For more information or to, email michael@sunraven.org.

• The SunRaven Men's Group aims to restore peace of mind and balance so that we thrive, not just manage to get by. The next meeting will take place on Monday November 21st.  For more information on upcoming meetings visit the SunRaven website.

• There is a 4-day SunRaven Group Juice Fast that will take place from December 1-5thand focus on the letting go that is so important during the fall season and helps us to stay in balance through the holidays.       For couples that chose to do the program, there will be a special program component during this retreat, as well. For more information, send an email to juicefast@sunraven.org.

Links

1. For more information on SunRaven, Dr. Finkelstein's holistic health center in Bedford, NY, please visit http://www.sunraven.org/
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4. Skillful Living Room http://www.businesstalkradio.net/weekend_host/tslr.shtml