The stress of everything going on lately can be overwhelming. We as scout leaders need to keep ourselves positive. Now more than ever before it’s important to take time out for yourself. Constantly giving to others without “recharging your batteries” can wear you out. Many have suggested reading a good book or watching movies. But this too could be stressful depending on your mood. Everything is perception and everyone is different. The only consistent thing is meditation. Now I’m not talking “woo woo” thing with a lot of smoke and banging gongs or anything. But if you’re into that it is quite good. I’m talking about just sitting in a nice comfortable chair and closing your eyes. Deliberately clearing your mind of tasks and any other burdens can lift your spirits. Take a few minutes for yourself. I have found that lighting can define how you think and see yourself in your own mind. Even if your eyes are closed the temperature of the light on your skin sends signals into your body and your mind.
Checking your attitude towards any situation is also important. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of anyone being described as “hangry”. Many people when they are just slightly hungry tend to be very edgy. The slightest agitation can send them into a furious rage. Other people unknowingly suffer from the same condition. The severity of this can vary depending on the person and the situation. I know that when my wife starts picking on me that she needs something to eat. So if you see me frantically handing her cookies you know I’m in trouble. Most of us can handle it by just dealing with the feelings of hunger. So the next time you start getting frustrated or angry about something ask yourself… Am I hungry?
Dr. Batmanghelidj the author of the best-selling book “You’re Not Sick, You’re Just Thirsty” makes it quite clear that hydration has a lot to do with your health. The next time that something “set you off” make sure that you have been drinking enough water. Irritability can be a symptom of dehydration. It is amazing to me how many times the youth don’t realize that they need to drink water constantly. As adults, we kind of take it for granted and really don’t think about it. It is extremely difficult to handle situations that may arise without understanding that our physical needs are not being met. As parents or leaders are called upon to handle situations we must keep this in mind. Taking good care of ourselves is the only way that we can continue to give to others.