Summer happiness is an inside job

I’d love to promise you warm sunshine, sweet romance and balmy evenings of dance and song (or whatever sizzling summer ingredients you prefer)! But you and I have little direct control over our external environment. Our summer happiness is an inside job.   So how about taking charge of your happiness this summer? Put your wellbeing at the top of your list, commit, prioritise, invest. It might feel selfish. That’s understandable, as we’re conditioned from an early age to put others first. Keep with it and soon all will see the benefits, as taking care of ourselves gives us more energy to spend with others when it really matters. Trust that, in taking care of yourself, you are making a positive contribution to your family and your community.   Here are a few ideas for getting started….   1. Review the actions you take when you first wake. Do you check messages, run around helping others or switch on the TV? This time is important because it has the potential to start your day on the right foot. Could you wake a little earlier to give yourself some ‘me’ time? Is there a meditation or exercise programme that would nurture you? Would wild dancing suit you better? Is there something you want to read or learn? There is an opportunity to start new habits before the main distractions of the day.
 2. Get to know your personal passions. These are the things that make your heart sing and your skin tingle. They drive you to do activities you lose yourself in. When coaching clients, I have processes to tease these out and we’ll also be exploring them on our Finding Your True Voice retreat. You can get a flavour of your passions by noticing the times in your day when you are having the most fun. Investigate and experiment by doing more of the things that bring you the most joy.
 3. Seek out new experiences. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, and something as simple as taking a new route can give us a different perspective on our day. Is there a class you’d like to take, an activity to try, a new book to read? Have the curiosity of an explorer, smile, have conversations with new people. It might mean leaving your comfort zone, maybe not everyone will love you, but would that really be so bad? Grab all your courage and have a fabulous summer adventure!
 Deborah Reeds 
deborahreeds.com
 sea-sky.co.uk