The Tools in Your Toolbox

As you begin to work on yourself and your life one of the most important things you need to realize early on is that the more tools you have in your tool box the more manageable this self improvement project will be. Whether it’s a DIY project or you’re seeking the help of professionals, you’ll need some tools along the way. Not all projects are the same and hence, different projects and styles require different tools to get the job done. Some tools I have found beneficial during my self improvement have been exercise, nutrition, reading, podcasts, meditation, therapy and now, shocking coming from me, even social media (more on this tool at the end). There are many more tools available to you, I recommend trying a lot to see what works for your schedule and personal style, it’s not a one size fits all. Another tool I feel I should mention is journaling. I have heard so many good things about journaling. I just started this one 2 days ago, so I’ll keep you posted! You can find lots of information about this and all the other tools with a quick internet search.

Like any tool you would use for a home improvement project, you need to know which tool to use in any given situation and how to use that tool. And the more practice you have using tools the better you’ll be at implementing them in the right situations. For instance you can’t use a screw driver to cut something, you need a saw right? All tools, while helpful, aren’t created equal. For me meditation sets the day up the right way, it creates a calm place in my mind and allows me to attack the day. Exercise helps me to destress and gives me more energy. Reading and podcasts have given me a vast amount of knowledge and insight that gives me the confidence I need to continue growing. Therapy helps me deal with my past and creates the communication skills I need to thrive. Some of these tools will have carryover into multiple areas of life obviously, but for you each of your tools can help in different ways. Hence the more tools you have the more equipped you will be. There is an old saying “when the only tool you have is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail.” And if you don’t have any tools, you won’t be able to fix anything and will resort to just accepting whatever has been ingrained into at this point in your life. Build up your toolbox so you have to ability to fix your life and adapt to whatever comes your way.

The last thing I wanted to talk about was social media. Social media is something that I never had much interest in, but as j started this journey it was something I needed to use, a tool, to put out information and to gain knowledge myself. This was when I realized social media is a tool like anything else. But like any tool it only is as good as what you use it for. Look at a hammer. A hammer and can build something great and beautiful and it can also destroy and break something apart. That’s how I look at social media. If you’re spending a reasonable amount of your day on social media inspiring and supporting others and getting inspired and supported, learning skills and interacting positively, it’s a tool that helps to build you and others up. But if you’re spending hours on social media, endlessly scrolling nonsense, judging others, trolling in comments, then this is a tool that is breaking you apart and destroying you. Think wisely how you use the tools at your fingertips.

“We become what we behold. We shape our tools and then our tools shape us.” - Marshall McLuhan