The Shape of Your Environment

This past Sunday, during his sermon at CrossPoint Church (Kansas), Pastor Andy Addis said something that’s been stuck in my mind all week.

He was talking about how it’s getting colder outside and we’re entering that season where, if you leave a water bottle in your car overnight, it’ll be frozen solid by morning. He went on to say the part that I’ve been replaying repeatedly: “If you leave something in an environment long enough, it will take the shape of that environment.”

It’s something I believe we’ve all heard, and it’s a simple concept, but it carries a lot of weight. If you strip away the bottle, the frozen water has literally conformed to the shape it was surrounded by.

That idea Andy was referring to comes out of Romans 12:2, which says:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Over the years, I’ve heard this same concept expressed in different ways… “You are who you hang with,” or “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” The more life experience I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized how true it is.

We take the shape of the environments we choose to stay in.

Let’s start with the most obvious… the people we surround ourselves with. Your friends and close circles are shaping you whether you realize it or not. Are they people who are forward-thinking, encouraging, and driven to make things better? Or are they negative, complacent, and constantly convinced that life’s out to get them?

You can’t live in a freezer and expect to stay warm.

The same applies to your work environment (or school, for students). I’m fortunate to work at Parcel with a group of innovators who hate inefficiency and love solving problems that make people’s lives better. (For those curious, I’ll link our Parcel Manifesto here so you can see what I mean.)

But the point is, work is where many of us spend most of our waking hours, so it’s worth asking, is my environment shaping me into who I want to become? If you’re the type of person who craves improvement and wants to make a real impact, you’ll probably need a job that isn’t always comfortable. A place that challenges you, stretches you, and surrounds you with people who care deeply about what they do.

And a quick side note here… you don’t have to like everyone you work with to grow alongside them. I’ve worked with brilliant, driven people over the years who challenged me to think bigger and do better, even if our personalities didn’t quite mesh enough to hang out on the weekends. Don’t confuse “liking someone” with “being sharpened by them.” Growth environments often bring friction, and that’s not a bad thing.

Of course, it’s not just about who or where, it’s also about you. You shape others, too. You’re someone else’s “bottle.”

How you act, the way you respond to challenges, and the tone you set in a room all affect the people around you. If you’re negative, cynical, or a constant complainer, you’re freezing others in that same mold. But if you bring optimism, gratitude, and encouragement, that’s what you help others take shape around.

At the end of the day, your schedule + habits + “people” = your future.

So look at what’s around you. Is your environment shaping you into who you want to be - or freezing you into something you were never meant to become?

That Leads Me to This Week’s Challenge… Take some time this week to evaluate your environment. Who are you spending time with? What habits are you reinforcing? What patterns are shaping your days?

And just as important - what shape are you creating for others?

Make sure the environment you’re in (and the one you’re helping build) is helping people grow warmer, stronger, and closer to the person God designed them to be.

I’m thankful you took the time to read this, for choosing to work, and for being part of what makes this world amazing.