Diffuse the Heat
& Avoid a Meltdown
“If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!”
Avoiding heat is especially true for sensitive little doggie paws. There is good rule of thumb for determining when the surface is safe for your pup. It’s called the “5-second Rule”. Press the back of your hand on the pavement (or concrete) for 5 seconds. If it is too hot, painful or uncomfortable for you, it will burn your pup’s paws.
For Arty, his “kitchen” was a series of three national parks during 90-100º weather. He didn’t have the option to “stay out of the kitchen”. His solution? Potholders for his feet! Those booties protected his little paws from the hot surfaces, and he even looked quite stylish! Thankfully they diffused the heat enough for him to enjoy trotting along the hot surface, saying “hi” to everyone along the way.
Sometimes though we simply cannot avoid "hot" environments—like a stressful job, dealing with an angry customer, or any number of other circumstances. When staying out of the kitchen isn't an option, we have to suit up.
Now there’s a thought ~
What if diffusing the heat is something we can prepare for? We can “suit up” by shifting our focus from simply enduring the heat to actively preparing for it. It’s inevitable that the heat will come. What if we equipped ourselves ahead of time for those times of escalation? What does “suiting up” look like? Arty had his physical gear, which included booties, water, and good doggie snacks to handle the heat. We too can pack our “emotional tool-kit” before stepping into a “kitchen”. Here are a few tools to include in your kit:
Mindset & View: Going in with the perspective that "Everyone has a voice" and "What can I learn here?" This keeps your feet grounded so you don't instantly fire back.
Understanding: Keeping yourself refreshed with the realization that "Anyone can have a bad day." It keeps you from dehydrating into bitterness.
Action: Fueling the situation with grace by choosing to "overlook and forgive sharp words" rather than biting back.
What if a conversation gets entirely out of control and you don't have your emotional "booties" on? Walking away isn't a sign of weakness; it’s knowing your limits. In those moments, the smartest move is to step out of the room until things cool down.
Arty adventures were a total walk in the park😉 because he was prepared with the right equipment. He threw on those booties (with a little help from someone with an opposable thumb) and hit the ground running! Arty is cool in every definition of the word.
Would you like to be “Arty Cool”? Pack your own emotional tool-kit and be ready to protect your peace and walk through the kitchen with confidence. Just like Arty.
(Or maybe don your chef’s hat and use that heat to make something wonderful!)
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