Emotional Thermostat Recipe

Just as a thermostat detects fluctuations in temperature and brings it back to a set point, we often experience the same pull in our emotional responses and adjust them to maintain familiar set state.

Have you ever wondered: “Why does my life still feels the same despite new status, new weight, new relationship?”

It goes back to the set parameters of your internal thermostat.

Let’s dive into this metaphor to paint the image. Imagine your thermostat is set to always maintain 70F. During summer seasons it gets super hot outside (say 100F) making your thermostat work hard to lower the temperature. During winter seasons it gets freezing cold (say 10F) making your thermostat work hard yet again only now to bring temperature up.

Now, reflect on your emotional state. I bet you have your own default setting – neutral, blah, slightly irritated, uplifted. You have your go to place with your emotions.

The trouble here is that often it happens unconsciously. It just happens. You might be avoiding confrontations because it will make you unhappy or you are so pessimistic you never give yourself a chance to look at the bright side.

That’s why I find these tips powerful in challenging us choosing our thermostat setting intentionally:

TIP #1: Where do you place your focus? (what’s missing makes it impossible to stay in happiness)

• Are you grateful for what you have or missing what you don’t have?
• Are you spending time in the past/present/future? In what was or what could be?
• Are you pointing to what you can/can’t control?

TIP #2: Movement is an instant emotional state booster.

• If you find yourself in the funk, go for a walk, shake your body (no judgement!) or do a few yoga moves.

Changing your challenges into opportunities by reframing.

• I am stuck vs I am growing
• How you describe your life?

TIP #3: Getting curious about pushing emotions down (overwhelm about overwhelm) and considering acceptance

TIP #4: Life is a reflection of people’s expectations and who I spend time the most (focus on solving, group let’s go)

• Upleveling your closest circle – being surrounded by people with higher thermostat setting (higher goals, more gratitude, more emotional balance and maturity, or whatever else that you want to have more of in your life)
• Having a board of directors – people who will challenge you and inspire you and support you in upleveling your emotional capacity

There is so much value in learning emotional regularity and changing our internal thermostat setting on purpose.

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Next week I will be writing about CELEBRATIONS (so timely for the last news edition of 2024) and how it can be used in getting out of your own way in creating the life of your dreams.

P.S. If you are interested in working with me as your coach, reach out via LinkedIn messaging or via email to request a consultation. New year, new start, new you!