The Tools

Phil Stutz and Barry Michels have introduced a series of seven mental tools in their book “The Tools” designed to overcome emotional and psychological blocks and unlock full potential. Here is a brief summary of the tools:

1. Reversal of Desire

Purpose: Overcoming fear and resistance.

Application:

1. Focus: Think of a situation that makes you anxious or uncomfortable.
2. Reversal of Desire: Imagine moving toward this fear or discomfort instead of running away from it. Say to yourself, “Bring it on.”
3. Declaration of Love: Then say to yourself, “I love pain.” This helps transform fear into something positive.
4. Liberation: Finish with “Pain sets me free” to reinforce the idea that facing fear liberates and strengthens you.

2. Active Love

Purpose: Dissolving negative feelings and fostering positive relationships.

Application:

1. Preparation: Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
2. Generate Love: Visualize a point in your heart from which love flows.
3. Radiate Love: Let this love flow out as a warm light from your heart and direct it toward the person you have difficulties with.
4. Send Positive Energy: Imagine this love reaching and enveloping the person. Feel your own heart open and soften.

3. Inner Authority

Purpose: Strengthening self-confidence and self-determination through the integration of the shadow.

Application:

1. Identify the Shadow: Think of a situation where you feel insecure or fearful. Consider which traits you suppress or reject in this situation. These are often aspects of your shadow that you typically do not accept.
2. Visualize the Shadow: Imagine your shadow as a powerful but often hidden figure. This figure represents all the traits and strengths you don’t acknowledge in yourself.
3. Encounter: Consciously engage with this figure. See it in your mind’s eye and recognize that it is a part of you, possessing great strength and authority.
4. Integration: Imagine this shadow figure standing behind you. Feel its strength and power supporting and protecting you. Accept that these traits belong to you and can support you in difficult situations.
5. Feel the Connection: Sense the presence of this figure behind you and feel its power flowing into you. Recognize that integrating your shadow allows you to be a more complete and powerful self.
6. Strengthen Self-Confidence: Carry this strengthened posture and self-confidence into your daily life. Be aware that acknowledging and integrating your shadow gives you access to more inner authority and strength.

4. The Grateful Heart

Purpose: Promoting a positive attitude and gratitude.

Application:

1. Focus: Sit in a quiet environment and close your eyes.
2. Objects of Gratitude: Think of three things you are grateful for. These can be small or large.
3. Feel Gratitude: Feel the gratitude deeply in your heart and let this feeling rise within you.
4. Radiate: Let the gratitude radiate as a warm, glowing light from your heart and touch all areas of your life.

5. Life or Death

Purpose: Realizing the urgency of life and overcoming procrastination.

Application:

1. Acknowledge Mortality: Think about the fact that life is finite and every moment counts.
2. Feel the Urgency: Imagine you have only a short time left to live. How would you use this time?
3. Act: Use this realization to motivate yourself to tackle important things immediately instead of postponing them.
4. Implement: Start right away with tasks you have been avoiding.

6. Belief in Higher Forces

Purpose: Enhancing connection to a higher self or spiritual source.

Application:

1. Relax: Find a quiet place and sit comfortably.
2. Connect: Close your eyes and imagine connecting to a higher force. This can be a spiritual source, your higher self, or the universe.
3. Receive: Let this higher force flow into your body and mind as light or energy.
4. Inspiration: Open yourself to the guidance and inspiration from this higher force. Use this connection to guide you in your daily life.

7. The Vision of a New World

Purpose: Promoting positive change and visions for the future.

Application:

1. Preparation: Sit quietly and close your eyes.
2. Visualize Goals: Imagine an ideal world or future you want to achieve. Be as detailed and vivid as possible.
3. Generate Emotion: Feel the positive emotions associated with this vision. Feel the joy, peace, and fulfillment that this future brings.
4. Action: Think of concrete steps you can take to get closer to this vision and implement them.

These detailed instructions on using the tools help integrate the techniques into daily life and achieve deeper emotional and psychological transformation.