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Let’s play a little game of word association. I’m going to say a word and I want you to think of the first thing that comes into your mind. You folks in the northeast are really going to enjoy this. Are you ready? Just after you read the word, close your eyes and feel the feeling… okay, ready? Here’s the word… summer. Are you smiling yet?

I’m writing this on an airplane, flying to the Caribbean. I couldn’t help but notice the screen on the in-flight monitor of my Jet Blue flight, advertising Orlando (visitOrlando.com). The slogan of their ad campaign is, “Endless Summer- It’s not a season, it’s a state of mind.”

I smiled when I read this and thought how much that applies to life itself! As a kid just hearing the word “summer” generated such a feeling of joy, lightness and fun, without even doing anything. No matter what month it was and whether I was taking an exam in October or studying for a test in February, already in my mind I was experiencing the carefree days of summer, if only for that instant.

Their ad is brilliant, for in the moment that I read it, I too was back to those days in my mind. Everyone would want to visit a place that had that feeling all year long!

But I’m still here, flying though the cold of February. The only thing that changed to generate my happy, carefree feeling, was a thought… a tiny, simple thought that changed my state of mind.

It’s just as easy to change our state of mind when cold, dreary February thoughts blow through our minds. We have the power to change our state of mind consciously, through our thoughts, and it’s pretty easy.

If you don’t like the state of mind you’re in, just change your thought. Sounds too easy, right? But here’s the really cool part- It really is that easy. Kids do it all the time. We’ve all seen a child having a temper tantrum complete with clenched fists, red face, loud hold-your-breath-crying, only to stop in an instant because “Oh look, here comes a puppy!”.

When we shift our thoughts, we shift everything. We do control our state of mind. Just like Orlando wants to be associated with the feelings of endless summer, we can have that same feeling in our life every day.

It doesn’t mean that we’re neglecting or ignoring the things that we have to do in life, just that we’re consciously focusing on the things that bring us joy. As Jack Canfield says, “If it ain’t fun, don’t do it”. I’d recommend we take that one step further to, “If it ain’t fun, don’t think it!”

Let’s bring back the carefree endless summer thoughts today, especially on a cold winter February day. You have the power to bring summer into your life right now. It may not change the weather but I guarantee it will change your state of mind.

p.s. I’m on vacation for the next 10 days, so please forgive me for not writing as often as normal. (There’s no wifi on some of these islands!)

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Gail Lynne Goodwin is the founder of InspireMeToday.com, bringing the best inspiration to the world. InspireMeToday.com provides free inspiration, each day from a new Inspirational Luminary, to a global community of folks from over 150 countries. Gail has interviewed many well-known names including Sir Richard Branson, Guy Laliberte, Seth Godin, Tony Hseih, Gary Vaynerchuk, Michael Gerber, Marci Shimoff, Jack Canfield and hundreds more. According to Mashable, Gail was one of 2009's Top 25 Most Inspirational People on Twitter.

Prior to InspireMeToday.com, Gail spent several years as manager for her recording artist daughter, Carly. As a result of the success of their co-penned song, "Baby Come Back Home", Gail accompanied her daughter to bases in the US and to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where Carly performed for our troops. Gail and Carly created the 'World's Longest Letter' of love and support and delivered the 18-mile long scroll on a month-long tour of Iraq and the Persian Gulf in 2006.

Gail is excited to present her latest course, Love in 21 Days, a step-by-step guide to finding love online. Love in 21 Days is founded on a logical process that has been tested - and proven! - by not only Gail, but also by students around the world who too have found love.

Gail is a published author and a regular writer for the Huffington Post. She offers mentoring and mastermind services to clients worldwide from her home in Whitefish, Montana. Follow Gail on Twitter or Google+.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Hi Gail,

    First of all enjoy your vacation! I have to say that I agree with you 100%. Our life is really what our thought make it. Enjoy the Caribbean, I live in Miami and the weather is absolutely gorgeous!

    Hugs,
    Jessica

  2. Gail

    Changes of altitude certainly help with changes of attitude, so enjoy your time of rest and renewal. And yes, it can be that simple, the miracle is always in seeing it/thinking about it differently. Thanks for all you do, Michelle

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