Summer has a way of catching us off guard. One minute you’re fired up, full of plans and purpose. The next, you’re two weeks deep into summer mode wondering, “Where did my momentum go?”
The sunshine, longer days, social invitations, and looser schedules can bring a beautiful sense of freedom. But they can also create a subtle sense of drift. Suddenly, the structure that supported your growth earlier in the year feels blurry. You’re juggling joy and obligations, but your inner fire starts to dim. That’s when confidence gets shaky. So, what do you do? You reclaim the season.
This isn’t about pushing harder or forcing productivity. It’s about tuning in to the rhythm of summer, staying anchored in your purpose, and showing up with confidence—even when your routine shifts. Let’s explore how.
When Seasons Change, So Should Your Strategy
Summer is not the time to abandon your goals. It’s the time to adjust your approach. We often talk about growth as a straight line, but real growth happens in seasons. Winter is for rest. Spring is for planting. And summer? Summer is for tending. It’s a time to check in on the seeds you’ve sown and make sure they’re still getting the sunlight, nourishment, and care they need to thrive. (If you need a refresher on setting intentional goals, revisit this post on turning vision into action to realign your focus.)
Ask yourself:
- What version of me is showing up right now?
- What’s changed about my energy, responsibilities, or environment?
- Where does my confidence feel strong, and where does it need reinforcement?
Summer doesn’t require the same pace. But it does require presence.
Confidence is Built in Small, Brave Choices
We tend to think of confidence as something big and flash; speaking on a stage, launching a new venture or taking a leap. But real confidence is often quiet.
I can’t even fully recall all the details of last summer—but I do remember this: I wasn’t fully present. I wasn’t overbooked, but I also wasn’t tuned in. I stayed in motion, assuming that meant I was making progress. But eventually, I realized something important…Confidence isn’t about doing everything. It’s about choosing the right things. It’s built in the everyday moments when you:
- Say no to an invitation that drains you.
- Wake up 15 minutes earlier to reconnect with your goals.
- Reclaim your boundaries, even if it’s awkward.
- Make that doctor’s appointment, finish that resume, or open the blank page to start writing.
These aren’t dramatic acts, but they’re bold. Every small decision to honor your purpose is a vote for your self-trust. And when you build self-trust, confidence follows. If you’ve been navigating confidence-building from a deeper place, you might also enjoy this earlier post on the courage-confidence connection, which explores how both grow in tandem. Let this be your reminder: you don’t need perfect conditions to show up. You just need to choose yourself, again and again.
Reframe Summer as a Season to Step Forward, Not Just Step Back
There’s nothing wrong with slowing down. Rest is a requirement, not a reward. But stepping back doesn’t mean disappearing. In fact, when everyone else is coasting, summer can become a powerful time to realign with your boldest goals. Here’s how to show up intentionally:
1. Choose Your Summer Word – Pick one word to define how you want to move through this season. Maybe it’s ease, visibility, grace, or focus. Mine this year? Visibility. I want to be seen, heard, and fully present in the spaces that matter most. Write your word on a sticky note, set it as your phone wallpaper, and let it guide your decisions.
2. Schedule Joy, Not Just Tasks – Confidence blooms when we feel fulfilled, not just busy. So, alongside your meetings and deadlines, block time for things like the following: solo date or creative outlet, weekly self-care ritual or time to do nothing—without guilt. This isn’t about balance. It’s about alignment.
3. Protect What Grounds You – Even when your calendar shifts, your values don’t. Keep at least one daily or weekly anchor that makes you feel steady. That might be journaling, prayer, movement, meditation, or checking in with your coach or accountability partner. These small practices remind you: You’ve got you.
Confidence Deserves Consistency, Not Perfection
One of the most damaging myths I see—especially among women in leadership or service-based roles—is that confidence should be automatic by now. That if you’re experienced, you shouldn’t struggle with doubt or momentum. But confidence isn’t a badge you earn once. It’s a practice. You can build that practice with intention—this piece on discipline and consistency lays out a simple strategy.
Some days, your confidence will roar. Other days, it will whisper. The important thing is that you stay in relationship with it.
Your Invitation to Reclaim the Season
Summer can be sacred.
It can be restful and powerful.
It can be both a pause and a launchpad.
You get to decide how this season serves you.
So I’ll ask you:
Where do you want to show up more boldly this summer?
And what’s one aligned action you can take this week to back yourself with confidence?
If you’re ready to reflect more deeply and realign with purpose, I invite you to download the Personal Retreat Guide—a free, self-paced tool designed to help you slow down, check in, and move forward with clarity and confidence. Whether you use it for a solo morning reset, a weekend of reflection, or a midyear mindset shift, it’s a practical way to nourish your confidence and recommit to yourself.
Let this be the summer you honor your energy, protect your peace, and say yes to your growth.
Because you don’t need the perfect plan.
You just need the power of your next step.