The Best Way to Acclimate to External Situations

When your internal weather feels unbalanced

I’ve been thinking about the weather’s effects on our bodies and energy systems.

Some people thrive in the heat, and others prefer colder climates. My oldest daughter and I feel heavy and tired in the heat. I feel energized by the sun, but the high temps overwhelm me. My youngest daughter seems unaffected.

It got me thinking of how much our outsides can affect our insides, and vice versa. I realize how resilient we humans can be when we intentionally set our minds to do so.

We currently live in New Mexico, where it’s hot and sunny most days in Spring and Summer.

We’ve only lived here for nine months and seem to feel the heat more intensely than long time locals. We appear more sensitive.

We had a brief tropical storm yesterday, and the heavy rain calmed me. I felt a remarkable, palpable difference in my body. I cooled down externally and instantly cooled internally.

I’ve been feelings bouts of unexplained anxiety the last week or so. I was sleep-deprived and felt like I couldn’t get a satisfying deep breath. I straddled on the borderline of anxiety in the afternoon. When the rain poured down, I wasn’t anxious anymore. I could breathe again.

It helped to run out in the downpour barefoot. It helped to feel and recognize the changes in the air and land. Mostly, I felt like the weather changed me, without any effort on my part.

Now I’m curious. Does our unique physiology lead us to prefer particular types of weather? I didn’t try to calm down in the rain, but I felt better immediately.

Can we adjust to different kinds of weather inside and outside of us? I believe we can. We’re often more resilient than we think. If this is true, how do we acclimate to external stimuli, like the weather?

Here are a few things to help you acclimate to external stimuli:

Pause and reflect

Pay attention to your bodily sensations. Notice what external stimuli affect how you feel inside.

For example, if you’re hungry, wait. Feel the grumble in your tummy. If you can’t get to food right away, pause and feel your hunger. I wrote morning pages when I was hungry. I purposely focused on writing. It took a few minutes to forget I was hungry. Alas, my hunger pangs disappeared during my writing time.

Pausing is different than ignoring your body’s needs. Delay your gratification for a short period to build resiliency. And if your body says it’s urgent, honor your needs. The key is in the pause. Ask yourself, “How’s the weather?” Then wait for the answer. Taking a moment to breathe and listen is the best way to find out what your body is telling you.

Redirect your attention

As I did with morning pages, you can shift your attention to something else. It works for anxiety, too. Redirection helps move energy away from whatever you might perceive as a problem.

When it’s not an urgent need, we can train our brains to be comfortable in the most unlikely of circumstances. I’m sure you’ve heard of the monks who can defy expectations by sitting for hours or days without food or water.

I heard today of an extraordinary athlete named Wim Hof, who can withstand freezing temperatures and heal his body of disease, with simple deep breathing and intention. He’s agreed to scientific testing, illustrating the power of the mind. He showed others with the same results.

If they can use redirection as a means of healing and restoration, anyone can.

Encouraging self-talk

When you have little control over outside circumstances, like enduring desert heat without relief, talk yourself down. Envision cool breezes. Drink water. Tell yourself you’ve been through this before, and it will pass.

The words we choose have power. Remind yourself of your strength and flexibility. Your body will adjust. Choose words of empowerment, strength, and comfort.

I have to talk to myself gently, reassuring my inner child I won’t starve. It comes from a brief history of neglect by way of starvation. That’s why I was impressed by my ability to be still when I felt hunger arise. It can happen with any discomfort. I tend to panic when I feel like there’s no escape.

We can all escape, though. When we change our minds, we have the power to change everything. Encourage yourself, remind yourself you’ll be ok.

Energy tools

The external world can affect your internal state without you realizing it. Energies come from everywhere: other people, the earth, outer space, buildings, unseen spirits, and weather systems.

Take out your energy clearing toolkit when things get messy. I’ve written an article (mentioned below) on energy clearing for empaths. Anyone can benefit from them.

First, do a body scan. Pay attention to what feels off balance or yucky. Maybe you ate something out of alignment. You could’ve felt barometric pressure from the weather change. I get headaches from pressure changes, for example. Body scans can reveal clear answers or leave you guessing.

Clear any stuck energies with simple movements. I love energetic showers. Brush off your body, starting at the top of your head, down to your toes. Then shake your hands.

You can do a lot with your hands and feet. Waving your hands in front of your face works. Going outside barefoot helps you ground and center. Dancing is a fun way to clear energy. You can clear by tapping your clavicle and breastbone (thymus gland).

Final thoughts

Climate and weather can affect our internal state. You can move to a place that suits your natural inclinations, or learn to harness the power of your mind, wherever you are. No matter what the weather brings, you’ll be able to move through it with ease. You can connect with weather patterns, appreciating the rain or warm sun peeking through clouds.

Intentions and language help us acclimate to external situations. Following a few simple steps will bring relief and shift our perception. We can pause and reflect, redirect our attention, and encourage ourselves through healthy self-talk. Clearing energy brings balance to our mind, body, and spirit. Let comfort be a state of mind and watch how your inner weather change.

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