You have to love this time of year; sunshine, long days and color everywhere! No matter where you turn something beautiful is blossoming and as we are deep into summer, gardens are flourishing all around. From flowers to vegetables, amateur and avid gardens alike are giving their time, energy and attention to gardens that produce not only the tangible fruits of their labor, but the emotional rewards as well. Let's face it, a garden in full bloom gives us a sense of accomplishment, puts a smile on our face and in our state of appreciation it connects us to that happy place in our heart.  

Let's take a closer look at just what it takes to grow a beautiful garden; seeds, seedlings or young plants, rich and fertile soil, water and fertilizer, the loving energy of the sun and finally some TLC from the gardener. If any one of those ingredients is missing or neglected, the chance of growing a beautiful garden is certainly challenged and diminished. And to be clear, the more time, energy and attention is given the garden, the more it will respond and reward.

Our lives are just like gardens; when we deliberately attend to them they blossom and thrive, and when we neglect them, they respond in kind. Once we become aware of the fact and acknowledge that we are 100% responsible for how our garden - our life! - grows, we can get busy embracing the role of the gardener and start planning, planting and nurturing our garden.

To grow your beautiful garden you have to be ready for something different in your life, be willing to invest in yourself, be committed to doing the work and to taking action. Here's how you start:  

• Seeds, seedlings or plants: A "list" of what you want more of, a dream tucked away in the corner of your heart, a desire that keeps calling you forward. Write it down, there's substantial power in putting pen to paper and it's an easy and effective first step. If you don't know what you want, you'll obviously never get it!

 

• Rich and fertile soil: Your imagination! Albert Einstein said that "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." Developing and consistently using this area of your brain can really make a lot happen in a short amount of time. Use it or lose it - find time to daydream and future trip.

 

• Water and fertilizer: Spend time tending to your "seeds" with consistent positive thought, small significant action steps and a dream team. Igniting a healthy fascination with yourself and your future, taking action that always gets you one step closer to your goal and having the right type of support is paramount to flourishing! Every step you take either moves you to your goal or away from it. Be deliberate and consistent.

 

• Loving energy of the sun: Connect with the spiritual side of yourself, be quiet, listen close, act on your divinely guided intuition. You are not alone on this life journey. The Divine (I call it The Universe, you can call it whatever honors your sacred relationship to Spirit) is in constant communication with your wiser self and is always inviting you to vibrant wellbeing. Nurture your sacred relationship and partnership; listen and then act.

 

• TLC from the gardener: Learn to lighten up, love yourself more, and laugh more often; these small steps have the most profound impact on the quality of our life. Our thoughts tell our brain which chemicals to course through our body. Be smart; choose the healthy, nurturing ones!

So there you are! Get busy working on your garden because you're worth the energy and effort! Once you've finished igniting your curiosity, it's time to start nurturing your garden with the necessities; a goal/intention, a strategy, plan and commitment to one small change at a time, a positive attitude and the loving energy and support of those committed to your success, a conscious connection to the Divine and a healthy dose of self-love. Through these actions you are now both the powerful gardener and the beautiful garden called Your Life!