Are You a Thermometer or a Thermostat

Today is a Hit Splits episode for Author Audience.

Welcome to the Author Audience show, the podcast that helps you reach more people with your message, create a book, connect with your audience, change lives. Here's your host, Shelly Hitz.

We go to church on Saturday nights and tonight our pastor gave the illustration of are you a thermostat or are you a thermometer? And I thought this would be a great discussion for this edition of Hit Splits. So think about the differences. A thermometer simply reflects or reveals the circumstances, the environment around it, whereas a thermostat actually changes it. A thermostat actually changes the temperature of the environment that it's in. And I thought this was an interesting question for us each to ask ourselves because I think it's so easy to get caught up in looking at other people, comparing ourselves to other people and thinking that we need to be like them, we need to be more like so and so. We need to model our business exactly like so and so. And I was just talking to a colleague who got caught up in that, that mind game of I need to be like them or I need to be like, like this. But when you're a thermostat, you're making a difference in your environment. With the God given gifts that you have, you're not looking around saying, what is everyone else doing? And simply reflecting that back. You're actually saying, what are the gifts God has uniquely given to me? What are the areas that God wants to use me? It may be completely different than anything you see anyone else doing. And it may be something that you never expected. Are you taking a stand or are you blending in? If you're a thermostat, you're taking a stand. You're making an impact. You're allowing God to use you to speak truth or to get a message to other people. But when you're a thermometer, you're simply blending in and reflecting and revealing the culture to everyone else. If you're a thermostat, you're not afraid to be who God has created you to be. It was this summer that I really felt God lead me to integrate my faith into my business. I don't think God calls everyone to do that. And I know everyone's situation is different. But for me, I felt that that was what he was asking me to do. To be a thermostat, to be who he's created me to be. Not just a thermometer, not just simply blending in, but choosing to stand out and to take a stand. So what ways Are you blending in to everyone else around you right now? If you're in that spot, you might be more of a thermometer. In what ways are you comparing yourself to everyone around you and saying, oh, I want to be more like her, or I wish my family was more like his, or, I wish I had their marriage, or I wish I was able to speak on camera like she can, or I wish I had the ability in business that he does. I wish I was making the money. They were. So many times it's easy to compare ourselves. And I really believe when we get in that comparison trap, it's another form of just being a thermometer, and we're just blending in. We're looking at the culture, and we're reflecting back the culture where a thermostat stands out. Being a thermostat takes courage. And I personally believe that God is able to. To give each one of us courage. And if you have a relationship with God as well, then you also have that same source of courage, courage to be who God has created you to be in a culture that may not completely accept that. I've had atheists comment on my Facebook page when I talk about God and not like it, but this is just who God has asked me to be. What has God asked you to be? What book has he asked you to write? How has he asked you to shine in this world right now? What is he asking you to do? That feels scary. It feels different. You're not comfortable with it. But when you take that stand, you'll be like that thermostat. So our pastor tonight was talking about this, and he was relating it to Daniel. The of you that know the Bible, know the story of Daniel. And he and his friends took a stand and asked if they could have a different diet so they wouldn't break God's laws, so they would stand for what they believed in, for what, for God, basically. And God flourished them. He allowed them to be able to be an example and to be a thermostat in their culture. So I encourage you to not just blend in, to not just think how you can be like someone else. First of all, we don't know what they've gone through to be where they're at today. But second of all, God's created you unique. He's created you different. He's created you with unique abilities, unique message, unique personality to impact the world like a thermostat in a unique way. And if you just try to be like me, or if I just try to be like you, we're not going to have the impact that God has created us to have. And it reminds me of the verse in Romans 12:2 do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God. And you know, that really sticks out to me. Do not be conformed to this world. So many times we're trying to figure fit ourselves, which we may be a square peg into a round circle. We may be trying to force ourselves to be something, to do something.

To just be something that we were not created to be. In your business, I encourage you to look at your strengths, look at the way God created you, the gifts and abilities he's given you and and really focus on those things. Yes, you will do things in your weaknesses. Yes, you will do things that are uncomfortable, but look at those things that you have been given as strengths and really focus on being you instead of trying to conform yourself into a mold that you were never intended to have. So I encourage you to be that thermostat and let your light shine. If you've enjoyed this podcast, I would love for you to share your review on itunes and just leave a comment. It lets me know that you're listening, that you're finding value in these episodes, and it just really encourages me. I love encouraging you, I love sharing with you, and I love helping you to reach your potential and to reach your goals. So let me know that you're here by leaving a comment on itunes.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Author Audience Show. Connect with us online@authoraudience.com where you'll find all the resources mentioned in today's episode. While you're there, grab Shelley's free video training on how to write and publish your book using her Six Step Ascent method. Join us again next week to learn how to reach your audience with your message.