The Heat is On.

The heat is on my mind today…..The heat is on everything today. It feels like 105* degrees outside. Flowers are fading and nature groans for relief. It seems like a ghost town in the neighborhood. It’s so quiet out because everyone is locked up inside with their air conditioners blasting. I don’t usually mind the heat, but I’ve had a fever for the past 5 days, so the heat is on my mind is literally true for me lately. Fever during a heatwave. It is a very unnatural and uncomfortable state that says, something is wrong here. Too much time in this state and damage will take place. What does “the heat is on” mean to you?

Maybe an important deadline is fast approaching for that project to get finished. It’s crunch time! Or maybe you are having a conflict in an important relationship and have put off dealing with it for too long. It might be time to start communicating.  For some it is facing illness, loss or financial set back all at once. Bam! No warning. No space. No break. Blindsided. For many of us, “The heat is on” is a normal day of stress as we try coping with work headaches, home hassles, kid anxiety and twenty other issues that pop up we weren’t expecting. So much to do so little time, energy or support. For many, this is normal. Like my fever during a heatwave, too much time in this state will cause damage – emotional damage. Do you shut down? Or do you fire up? Regardless of your heat, I have a few pointers to see you through. When the heat is on in your life:

1.     Slow down and conserve your energy. Close your eyes, take slow, deep breathes, and refocus your thoughts.

2.     Strip off any access baggage. Wear the bare minimum. Just let it go.

3.     Drink plenty of fluids. Sip as you go and add flavors.

4.     Find a water source. Submerge yourself in a pool, creek, lake, river, or ocean. Enjoy

5.     Prioritize your tasks. Only do what is most needed.

6.     This too shall pass. Nothing lasts forever. Change always comes.