Summer Lovin'

Summer officially starts this week, but it feels like it is already flying by. Before Fall creeps up on you, I want to encourage you to take advantage of the hot summer days and nights. We have all seen movies about "summer love." So how about spending summer falling more deeply in love with yourself and your life? It's time to turn up the flame on your passion and stretch beyond the limits of your daily routine. It's time to step outside the status quo of your life, kick up your heels, and plan something off-the-charts for yourself!

A fundamental aspect of the work that Integrative Coaches do with clients is to have them identify a goal and then each week commit to taking action steps that will lead them to the manifestation of this accomplishment. Achieving a goal or actually doing something that you have been thinking or talking about for years is one of the best ways to ignite your light of self-love!

What is it that you've been talking about doing? Or what have you been secretly wishing you could do? What could you plan for yourself that would be enlivening, invigorating, eye-opening, and heart-expanding for you? Maybe it's planning a romantic weekend away with your partner, registering for a yoga retreat, or turning a corner of your house into an art studio (even if you've never done more than paint by numbers). Or perhaps you could schedule tennis lessons or go salsa dancing with a group of friends. Parks and museums always have terrific summer workshops, and if you live near a beach, this could be your summer for those kayaking, paddle boarding, or surfing lessons that you've fantasized about.

In Debbie Ford's last book Courage, she talks about becoming "unrecognizable." She explains that "to become unrecognizable to yourself, you must move outside of your comfort zone, let go of whatever you are holding on to, release the self-image that you've kept trying to live up to over and over and over again."

You will become an inspiration to yourself and all of those around you when you continually challenge yourself to be unrecognizable. Just imagine what will be possible for you if, by the time fall rolls around, you challenged yourself and accomplished something that you have been dreaming about for years? You will become the idol of yourself and open up to self-confidence and love!

So while the sun is shining and the days are long, take some time to look at what will light you up, turn you on, and infuse these next few months with the ultimate of summer lovin' and have a blast!

Transformational Action Steps

(1) Brainstorm It! Sit down and without thinking or editing yourself, make a list of the things you have been dreaming or talking about doing.

(2) Pick It! Select the top two or three from the list.

(3) Make It Happen! Make the phone calls, Google it, schedule it, put your deposit down, and give it to yourself – whatever it may be. Allow yourself more fun and pleasure than you think you can stand!