A car cuts you off in traffic. Your boss passes you over for a promotion you deserved. Someone breaks a promise they made to you. What do you do? Do you immediately jump to anger and react to the offense, or do you do you take the time to think about the consequences of your actions before you respond? It all depends. Are you the thermometer or the thermostat?
A thermometer reflects the temperature; it has no control over it. It only mirrors and interprets the temperature of the room or area.The thermometer can only give back the information it’s been given. If the room is cold, the thermometer says it’s cold. If the room is hot, the thermometer says it’s hot.
A thermostat, however, can regulate the temperature. If you want the room to be cool, set the thermostat to a low temperature and watch the temperature of the room change. If you want the room to be hot, set the thermostat to a high temperature and again watch the temperature of the room change accordingly. The thermostat is in control of the temperature. The environment doesn’t control it, it controls the environment.
As men and as leaders, we must remember to be the thermostat.When life gives us scenarios that are unfavorable, how we respond to them is our responsibility. When you wake up in the morning, set your thermostat to “cool”. A car cuts you off in traffic? Stay “cool”. Don’t let it anger you and detour you from your path. Your boss passes you over for a promotion you deserved? Stay “cool”. Maybe they’re testing you to see how you respond to unfavorable situations. Someone breaks a promise they made to you? Stay “cool”. No one is perfect, not even you.
When we become thermometers, we give others control over us. We allow them to have the power over how we act and feel. Be the thermostat and take control of the temperature of things around you!