I created a free, downloadable sheet What Does Your Favorite Season Say About You? to help you discover more about yourself.

I love everything about fall—the brilliant foliage, the crisp air, the smell of decomposing cranberries and damp earth, warm fires and the rich aroma of wood smoke, the haunting call of wild geese and the lullaby of rustling leaves.

I’m not joking when I tell my husband that I’m sure God is preparing a house for me in Heaven where it will be perpetually autumn. To me, fall is paradise.

But I got to thinking.

What does my obsession with a season characterized by decay (why do dying berries smell so good anyway?) say about me? Does it reveal some pathological streak in my personality? An unhealthy melancholy or pessimism?

These questions did nothing to change my affection for the season, but they bothered me.

Until I finally thought to ask God...and got an answer. I felt Him say, “You’re all about rest. And that’s what fall is about too.”

Oh!

Fall is a time for resting from the labor and busyness of summer. A time for slowing down and switching focus. I’ve known for a while now that the importance of rest is something God wants me to share with others. It’s a piece of the message He has given me. And my love of fall is a natural byproduct of who I am inside: A woman who values rest, is learning to live at rest and encourages others in the journey to restful living.

It actually makes sense.

And what a relief! I’m not a sociopath after all!

After a bit more thinking, I came up with several other elements of autumn that reflect some of my deepest values and core personality (as well as a few ways you can use the season to your advantage).

Fall is about contemplation.

I’m a contemplative, and there’s nothing that inspires deep, soulful thinking like the nostalgic days of fall. It’s the perfect time to pause and take stock of our lives and consider important questions like, What have I accomplished in the last few months? What really matters in life? Do I have a deep sense that I’m on the right track? If not, why not? Is there anything that needs to change in my life right now?

Thoughtful and honest consideration of these type of questions creates the opportunity to gain a sense of accomplishment, get a big picture look at our lives, and adjust our course to ensure we are headed in the right direction.

Fall is about preparation.

I’m a planner. I love thinking about what’s coming next and what I need to make it happen. Likewise, autumn is all about gearing up for the upcoming season. This preparation may be practical, like chopping wood or swapping out summer tires for snow tires. But it’s also an opportunity to prepare for what’s up ahead relationally, educationally, vocationally, etc.

Some questions to set ourselves up for success include, What are my priorities for the coming months? What do I need to do now to ensure I succeed? Who do I need to connect to? What material do I need to collect? When will I block out time for this project?

Fall is about savoring.

I’m a big believer that savoring (intentionally basking in the pleasure of a given experience) is a key to enjoying everyday life, and autumn is full of invitations to savor the moment. Sipping hot spiced cider, snuggling into a cozy wool jacket, feeling the crunch of leaves under boots, or laughing with friends around a bonfire are little moments begging to be enjoyed. Just slowing down and appreciating these gifts goes a long way toward adding a touch of magic to daily life.

How about you? Is your love for a specific season a byproduct of who you are deep down inside? Does the celebration of new life set your heart singing in the springtime? Does the simplicity of winter resonate with you?

I encourage you to take some time to contemplate and jot down your thoughts on what your favorite season is and why. What does it represent or symbolize to you? What about it matches up to your personality or values? What does it reveal about God and the truth God wants to reveal through you?

I hope you have fun as you reflect on yourself from a new angle and glean some more knowledge about the wonderful person God created you to be! I’d love to hear what you come up with!

Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas to get you going:

WINTER themes: celebration, crispness, freshness, minimalism, purity, rest, simplicity, stripping away the unnecessary

SPRING themes: cleansing, hope, planting seeds, new beginnings, new life, the promise of coming warmth after the starkness of winter, promises fulfilled, resurrection, second chances

SUMMER themes: color, energy, freedom, growth, joy, productivity, vacation

FALL themes: contemplation, preparation, rest, thanksgiving, transition, savoring