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For many people, summer brings to mind thoughts of sun-kissed beaches, starlit nights and rounds of golf on lush, green fairways. For my 11-year-old daughter, however, it brings thoughts of scuba-diving classes and dreams of being lowered into the ocean in a metal cage. Yes, my lovely child yearns to be submerged in a cage to study shark behavior. As I listen to her speak of this love of aquatic life, something maternal overtakes me; and I want to protect her from the grip of a deadly monster, like the Great White portrayed in the movie Jaws. I know, of course, this is senseless, not only because my spiritual beliefs tell me so, but there are few fatalities from shark attacks. In reality, the chance of being killed by a shark is only one in 300 million. What's more, in 2006, there were only four fatal shark attacks. By contrast, coconuts kill around 150 people each year, making them 10 times more dangerous than sharks. Certainly, the myth of the gigantic, blood-thirsty killer rising from the depths of the sea is debunked when you consider that between 20 and 100 million sharks die each year due to human fishing activity.

Mythical Hollywood sharks aside, we can learn much from these fascinating fish who help maintain the balance of nature by reducing animal populations. For one, some sharks must swim constantly to breathe oxygen from water passing through their gills. Others must keep swimming forward to stop themselves from drowning.

When I take a closer look at the behavior of sharks, I see striking similarity to our own lives. If we don't keep moving forward, we suffocate and drown mentally, emotionally, spiritually and even physically. This occurs when we refrain from moving forward thus blocking our ability to live our passion and fulfill our Divine Potential - a potential that is equally present in each one of us. When we incarnate on this Earthly plane of experience, it is for the purpose of expressing the living Spirit in us, as us and through us. That means answering the call of this Infinite Intelligence to express more of our Selves. To do so, we must keep moving forward by growing, learning and stretching our spiritual muscles farther than ever before. We must silence the bustle in our daily lives, and listen to the hushed voice within that inspires us to become more of our Selves, therefore, becoming more alive.

When cultivating new avenues of expression, you simply cannot stagnate. You become fully alive and awake. An awakening from spiritual slumber takes place, which is the topic of the book, Live Your Joy: How to Awaken from Spiritual Slumber. Naturally, life wants to express as you in new ways. The Creative Process is one of renewal, rebirth and change, not one of standing still and repeating the same old patterns of the past.

You've Got To Keep Moving

So this summer while you are soaking up the sunshine, think about what you are passionate about. Are you ready to fulfill your dreams? Are you willing to let go and allow life to take you to new and unexplored places in consciousness? Can you enter into the unexplored depths of your heart with complete trust in the process of life? If so, use the following tips to ignite your passion and get started.

Ask yourself what you would be doing if money were no object. Would you be doing the work you are currently in? Or would you go in a different direction? Start taking steps to go in the new direction if it is different from where you are now. This could be as simple as expanding your hobby into a business, applying for a grant or serving as a volunteer in a field you are passionate about.

Keep learning for life. No matter what your age, it's never too late to take up an instrument, enroll in a class, learn a sport of sing in a choir. Think about Roger Gentilhomme, the 100-year-old man from Florida, who took up tennis at age 65 and still plays for two hours a day. He's won awards, played in national and international competitions and even uses e-mail.

Don't talk yourself out of it. When you are inspired to express your dream, don't utter negative words or phrases. Expect the best. Turn away from Murphy's Law, which is a negative use of the Law of Attraction. Remember, your desire contains all that's necessary for fulfillment.

Keep the faith. Spirit will not abandon you in your quest to fulfill your Divine Potential. Release any old thoughts that you are not good enough or that you don't have what it takes. There are no obstacles except those you allow to enter into your mind.

Stay up-to-date on technology, progress and current trends. Maybe your teenager is the only one who knows how to use the remote control, TVO or the digital camera. Learn how to do it yourself because not only will the kids leave some day, but living in the past is a surefire way to mental, spiritual and physical atrophy.

Love what you do and love those who you do it for. Whether it's your clients, co-workers, customers, patients, students, or family, it's the loving service to others that opens our hearts to greater states of livingness.

Partner with God on a daily basis. Those who meditate, pray and express gratitude daily (not just on Sunday) experience greater states of fulfillment and a greater sense of well-being.

Embrace change. Change helps us thrive; routine makes us stale. Just think of your fitness program. If you don't mix it up, your muscles are not challenged and new growth ceases. Similarly, when life is devoid of change, or when we stop moving forward, personal growth ceases. When we keep spiritual momentum going, our radiance and light touches everyone we meet.

Shattering The Illusion

If every one of us stepped out in faith to fulfill our Divine Potential, what a different world we would live in today. We would discover that the shark-infested waters never were dangerous to begin with. It was only a false perception, an illusion, something different from the Truth. So I tell my daughter, "Go for it. Swim with the sharks. Just do your mother a favor, and don't sit under a coconut tree."