LOVE YOUR LIFE

A debut author dispenses advice on how to design the life of your dreams.

Your life is a garden that requires careful, deliberate tending, according to professional coach Young. Yet too many people let their gardens go to seed, finding themselves frustrated and unfulfilled even if they enjoy the outward trappings of success. In this pithy guide, Young walks readers through the process of creating a “lifescape that feeds your soul and gives you a reason to be excited when you get up in the morning.” Just as a gardener must select the right plants for the climate and the soil, so must we all identify the “required ingredients of our dream life,” she argues. Fortunately, Young has devised a process to help people do exactly that. She begins by encouraging readers to “discover what makes your heart sing,” then discusses topics such as clarifying needs and wants, tracking progress, making use of available resources, creating an action plan, and enhancing one’s professional image. Each chapter ends with a series of pointed questions for readers to answer, which will help them apply that section’s lesson to their own lives. The goal is to move through the book sequentially, ending with a clear vision for the road in mind as well specific criteria for success and a sense of possible obstacles ahead. Though the title suggests a more general self-help tome, the book is primarily focused on helping people find their perfect career paths. The tone throughout is perky and positive, with the implication that once readers have decided what they want out of life, they’re halfway to making it a reality. This rosy “if you can dream it, you can do it” outlook is encouraging, but there’s less discussion about what to do when readers hit a bump or how to cope when their dreams and talents don’t align. But for those who have a nagging sense that there’s something missing from their lives, Young’s work is a valuable starting point.

A practical plan for getting out of the weeds and following the ideal path.