In the Heat of Summer

Remember when summer first arrived—it was wonderful—longer days, warm evenings, swimming, cooking outside, no jackets or sweaters, and so on. However, by mid-August, the excitement for summer often fades as the heat and bugs become unbearable, not to mention the traffic to beaches and national parks. Especially in summers like this one, where temperatures soar above normal, it's even more important that we find ways to stay cool, calm, and collected.

One way to improve your outlook is to focus on the positive aspects of your life — including the weather — rather than the negative ones. Most people spend 90% of their time worrying about the 10% of their life that is negative. The more we dwell on something, the larger it appears, so it's important to train our minds to focus on what is good about our lives.

A simple way to do this is by making a gratitude list. If it's too hot to go outside, use that time indoors to write down what you're thankful for right now. As temperatures rise, be grateful that you have A/C (if you do), that you don't have a job like a roofer, for the water you drink, for indoor malls where we can escape the heat (if you lack A/C), and when everything else fails, remember that summer eventually passes, and cooler weather is just ahead.

Gratitude is like exercising – when practiced regularly, we strengthen our gratitude muscles, making it easier and more natural over time. That’s why making daily lists is such a vital spiritual tool because it helps us focus on all the good in our lives instead of the negative.

Several years ago, after my foot surgery and two months in a cast, I felt sorry for myself. When my cast was removed, I was given a boot and needed physical therapy to relearn how to walk. One day, I went to PT feeling full of self-pity, and I saw a man who had only one leg. Wow, talk about an instant gratitude rush! I was filled with gratitude for what I had!

As summer temperatures hit new highs, take a moment to appreciate what you have, and when everything seems to go wrong, remember that summer will pass, and cooler weather will come back.

Quote of the Week:

“It is only in sorrow bad weather master’s us; in joy [gratitude] we face the storm and defy it.” - Amelia Barr

Please introduce yourself to me at the Unity Center of Pittsburgh when I speak in-person again on September 14.