Tag: toolbox

Your Mind is a Toolbox

Jennifred Jones

Inside our mind (brain) is a wealth of tools and resources to help move us forward.

When we’re stumped or in a difficult situation we can reach into our ‘toolbox’ and pull out a tool to help us! Sometimes we have to try several different tools to get the right one for that situation. As we mature in building our mind craft, we will notice other tools we’d like to add to our toolbox. We might see someone else successfully using a tool we don’t have and we’d like to work towards getting it.

Older tools, already in our toolbox, will need to be kept sharp, oiled, greased, polished etc. This is something we can do ourselves. But at times we’ll need to locate another craftsman to help us sharpen our tools.

‘Give me some examples of these tools and what they can do for me.’

  1. The plum-bob. An old-fashioned tool attached to a string to help us keep things straight up and down.
  2. The compass. Used by hikers and sea farers – keeps them going the right direction, so they don’t get lost or go adrift.
  3. The level. If things aren’t built level, gravity and wind will eventually blow them over.
  4. The hammer. We’ll need to keep pounding away through tough situations. Tenacity!
  5. The screwdriver. Needful to tighten down good habits.
  6. The sanding block. Smooths off rough edges that keep snagging us.
  7. The carpenter’s pencil. Used to mark points along the way showing progress.
  8. The crowbar. When we have hard things to pull out of our life, this will be handy.
  9. Clamps. These hold things in place while stuff adheres. Helpful in developing new habits.
  10. A resource guide. Will show you how to handle your tools for best results.

These are a smattering of tool choices. See which tools will benefit you. Some you rarely use, but when you need them, they’re good to have.

Be on the lookout for good tools. I like to go to second hand stores and find well-made, well-used older tools – proven over time to work and be effective.

Keep your toolbox cleaned out and organized…ready to use. You’ll be surprised what you can do!

The Money-Tool

Jennifred Jones

For some of us, (me included) we need to rethink one of the tools in our toolbox…..MONEY!

Dad was a cabinet maker with all sorts of tools in various sizes, shapes, types, and each one produced a result by the work of his hands.

He used his tools to make many, many enduring pieces which our family still has and uses today.

Back to money. It is a tool in our hands to be used to make and shape things.

This tool can be used to build structures, organizations, fund projects or fund your own family.

We need this tool. We need to learn how to hold it in our hands and use it to begin a helpful idea or venture… use it to grow and develop something worthy that another person started, but needs help with their money-tool…so we come alongside with our toolbox and help them out….think modern day barn-raising.

Money, like any other tool, is neither good or bad. It all depends on how the craftsman decides to use it.

Our world needs money, we have a lot of people with lots of needs. We need money (our way of bartering) to meet these needs.

Let’s all (me included) take whatever time we need to figure out how to use this money tool…get it out of our toolbox, sharpen it up and start using it to build up.

Let’s not despise this tool, but take full advantage of it.

Think together with me….have I been misusing this tool, have I left it alone in the toolbox afraid to touch it? Have I been letting someone else use my money-tool that doesn’t know how it works and diminished its value? The tools in my toolbox are my responsibility.

What do I need to do today to take better care of and get more use out of this much needed tool?