A Sunday Spark That Hit Hard

In church last week, the pastor said something that immediately set my brain alight, and every part of me sat up and paid attention.

He said: you’re either a thermostat or a thermometer.

My first thought? OH. MY. WORD. That’s brilliant.

My second? This will definitely make it to an article. 😜

Hours later, I was still thinking about it. My brain unpacking the idea and building on it in all directions.

The Core Idea

If you’re a thermometer, you change depending on your environment.

If you’re a thermostat, you change the environment.

Isn’t it sooooo good?

The obvious lesson here is that we all need to be thermostats. Right? Um… Not always, I’d say.

Setting Your Temperature Range

To be a thermostat, you need to set your “temperature range”.

In order to do this you’d need to spend some time considering who you are and who you want to be. Things like your morals and values, work ethic, goals and ambitions etc.

When these remain unknowns you will change depending on the people and the environment around you, in other words you will be a thermometer.

Admittedly, I could think of numerous times I’d absorbed someone else’s mood, adopted the sentiment of the group or even let social scrolling change my outlook.

But there were also times I found myself (or actively put myself) in environments that were HOT! High achievers, high standards, high values, big ideas etc…

I felt my temperature rise (temporary thermometer), and here’s the important thing….

It made me raise my thermostat settings to make sure they stayed high after I’d left the room!

What This Means for Brand Consistency

This is also true for brands.

Those that bounce around, follow every trend, and try to please everyone – thermometers.

Brands that know who they are, show up authentically and consistently – thermostats.

Same goes for leadership, parenting, and relationships.

Parenting, Leadership, and Emotional Tone

As a mom, I’ve caught myself being a thermometer – letting my kids’ moods dictate the entire household energy. But by staying calm when they’re chaotic and being consistent with boundaries even when they push back – I set the tone.

You don’t build trust and connection by being reactive.

You build it by being consistent, intentional, and anchored. Even when everything around you is noisy and unpredictable.

Small Shifts That Set the Tone

Here are things I am trying:

• Creating phone-free zones

No scrolling first thing in the morning, so I set my tone before absorbing someone else’s

During focused work time, and when I’m with my kids. This prevents me from reacting to every ping, and letting notifications scatter my attention and energy.

• Writing down the day’s priorities before checking emails

Anchoring myself in what matters most instead of letting my inbox set my agenda

• Bringing solutions instead of just problems

When I need to address an issue, coming with potential fixes instead of just adding to the complaint pile sets the tone for progress instead of letting negativity take the floor.

• Clearing my workspace at the end of the day

Creating an environment that inspires focus and calm instead of starting my day reacting to yesterday’s mess.

Progress Over Perfection

I’m not doing it perfectly. But I’m noticing it more. And that’s something.

What’s one small shift you could make this week to set the temperature – in your home, in your work, or even just in your own head?