We all have to survive/tools.
Okay. We all have to survive in this world. It would be a little better if you can thrive so as we can create comfort for ourselves down the road. In this ever changing technological world, I cannot help to think about what tools would be essential for creating comfort.The first tool that comes to mind is knowledge. I think an obsession with knowledge is just as bad as not having any knowledge. There has to be a balance. In my opinion, the balance is created with knowledge and real life experiences.
The next tool that comes to mind is a network of friends. I was once told, it is not what you know...but who you know. I think in order to become part of a network, you need to have something to contribute within that network. With that said, that saying I heard is partially true. It helps to know something as to not become a sponge to that network...but to also contribute and become one of its assets.
The third tool that comes to mind is reputation. It is difficult to thrive in society if you have a bad reputation. Especially with social media, it is easy for your reputation to get spotted. Treat people with respect is important.
The forth tool that comes to mind...actually has to do with the mind. A healthy and happy mindset allows you to perceive reality clearer and have the motivation to achieve comfort. Not to mention, the capacity to better understand (coupled with knowledge).
The fifth tool I can think of is the ability to manage your finances effectively. It don't matter what sort of money you make, if you spend it as it comes in your wallet....it will be difficult to create comfort down the road.
The sixth tool....the ability to discern friends and lover(s). This comes with some knowledge and some experience. I have always said, allowing the wrong person in your life can create a hell on earth for yourself. However, it is said that humans are social creatures and yearn for companionship. So be careful, but yet...allow people in your life.
Are there any other tools you believe have helped you in life that you would encourage somebody who is entering this world to use?
Happy Sunday to you all.
Comments (59)
1. Common Sense
2. Good gut instinct
These will get you through most things in life.
Learning from other people's mistakes is not completely bad either...as long as the mistake's context they are made in are not solely unique to perpetrator's life.
Thanks Molly.
The can opener in the back pocket, I thought was a given for going through life.
They might need the can opener more
When children reach adulthood, for the most part, they only know what their parents have told them. In today's world, many children only have one parent...so they learn half. Just because a person is a parent, does not make them all knowing of life. They only know what their parents have passed on. It is up to the adult to fill in the missing pieces of what was not taught to them from their parent(s). Unfortunately, a lot of these new adults entering the world believe they know it all already, and do not go out and seek any missing knowledge.
So....maybe another tool would be learning to be somewhat curious?
I would teach them my idea or right from wrong. They can create their own ideas of it as they mature.
I would teach them that life owes them nothing, that it is not always fair, but they have to work with it.
I would teach them not to do anything stupid until they are old enough to know it's stupid. If they choose to do it then, so be it.
To read widely for themselves and not to believe blindly everything they are told.
I would teach them to use their talents to the best of their ability.
To choose their friends wisely and kerp them through thick and thin.
To not get involved in organised religion, but to see the beauty in everything, including humankind.
And to enjoy life, we only gave the one.
That was only chapter 1 of a tome
Thank you.
Learning basic skills is so important
So many people can't even cook for themselves, grow their own food, not to mind change oil in their cars.
You seem to have missed something important...
What about SKILLS?
It's all very to have knowledge but if you can't do anything yourself
I would teach my kids what compassion and tolerance means because they will need it.
I would teach them to constantly work on themselves,, and the importance of self awareness....and being aware of who they choose as friends.
I would expose them safely to all kinds of people races and cultures where possible...this goes in with compassion and kindness.
I would teach them to be self sufficient...for the boys teach them the girls jobs...and the girls the boys jobs...not just their own.
The importance of reading also...and to learn to think for themselves.
Most importantly and as they are passions of mine i would teach them that the most vulnerable in society are Kids, the elderly and animals and to always look out for those that are the most vulnerable.
Theres plenty more i would teach them but if i can mostly teach a child to think for themselves and not be influenced by others i think this is one of the best things i can teach a child.
Page 2 of 2,
Survival & Essential tools from surviving to thriving,
8. The belief that, nobody in life is given more than they can handle.
9. Exercise.
10. Turn to nature.
11. Make time for yourself to chill out and relax, declutter from all negative gathered through contact from others online and, in real life through for example, listening to music, having a bubble bath, medidation etc.
12. Solitude and time for oneself to process what has occured in real life (plus, online if interacting online), thoughts and feelings.
13. Expression of thoughts and feelings through writing or any other creative activity e.g sketching, drawing, painting, dancing etc.
14. Gratitude, offering of thanks and expression of greatfulness for each small positive event taking place e.g offer of a glass of tap water.
15. Thinking that, there's a lesson to be learned from each negative experience, situation, hardship or difficulty or obstacle or challenge and, setting out to find this lesson.
16. Finding the lesson to be learned from the negative experience, situation, hardship, difficulty, obstacle or challenge.
The last and sixteenth (16) point of essential tools from surviving to thriving, takes me back to the starting point of it and Thriumph that is,
17. The application of the lesson/s learned from life experiences(situations, difficulties, obstacles, challenges etc.) in real life.
The above list of essential tools from surviving to thriving is not restrictive to the above 17 points.
However, it is my belief, they make a good equipment able to carry someone through such journey and in any case, improve someone's life, health and overall well being.
I think it is important for the parent(s) to let their kids kinda go out and do light duty responsible things on their own. For example, a friend of mine give guitar lessons, and the you boy who was learning, had his father smothering him.
All good things you list. I cannot help to wonder how the specific gender differences would be frowned upon by fanatics. ...unless, you are talking about child rearing activities.
All a good point, something I mentioned to my ex-gf's son....about pure pressure.
You do bring up something that I did not consider when titling this blog. True, this is coming from, I supposed, a developed country perspective with capitalism as its economy.
There is a lot you provided and I will be reading through it making comments as they are warranted. :)
Thank you so much for taking the time out to share so much...truly appreciated.
Excellent advice for those facing adversities in life. Absolutely. Once you become mentally defeated, the chore of digging yourself out of a hole becomes much more challenging. I recently heard this when I was looking into the mental aspects of playing pool/billards. They recommend that you visualize yourself making the shot, before even making the shot. I have never heard that advice before and I see you mention the same thing.
A very nice read. Thanks again for sharing it.
Treat others the way you want to be treated...common sense stuff...and yes learn tasks despite the labels attatched to them...
Can openers are welcome...lol...
Good morning/afternoon/evening,
I would be copying and pasting onto my notes now for me to read, the 2 lists brainstormed yesterday.
Sometimes, it's hard to stop when brainstorming.
I'm a bit confused for the reason that follows below and asking for a clarification,
In the first paragraph of your blog it is obvious that you are referring to adults trying to make through life or "survive" , much better "thrive".
Later on in the comments section, you are referring to raising a child and, in a way, asking the question how a child can be better equipped when reaching adulthood and what lessons should be taught to that child in order to make it through life as an adult or " survive ".
Could you please clarify the subject of this blog and, what your blog refers to exactly?.
What's are you mostly interested in finding out?
Thanks.
In regards to your second comment to me, I am going to grab this opportunity to add another point to my list of essential tools from surviving to thriving and that is,
18. Change "have to" to "want to", turn into a choice , not an obligation.
In regards to your third comment, where I come from, it's often said, "Whoever is outside a dance, knows of many songs to sing".
Very good. Nobody said that life was easy...resilience is necessary.
Telling other people what I think is one of my favourite occupations - okay, a few on CS might have noticed that
But listening is the strongest tool of all - listening to what the other would-be survivor wants, then finding common ground where we can work together to achieve both our goals.
The most frightening person I can imagine is the one who never makes sense, no matter how carefully you listen.
Thank you for clarifying that you are looking into both matters, (a) the case of an adult "having to survive" in this world obviously, when going through adversities, hardships, difficulties etc., making it through and, thriving (b) "teaching" or "what lessons to be taught" when raising a child to make it through any adversities, difficulties, hardships etc., "survive" and, "thrive" over them in life.
"Sorta both", your answer to my question I take it as stated above.
I will therefore, try to provide an answer to your question in regards to point 18 that may include both.
Point 18.
Change "have to" to "want to", turn into a choice , not an obligation.
Your question,
"Why is that....'have to' to 'want to'.
"I would assume it is in regards to the mindset, and the added pressure one may add (have to) over the other (want to)", you said.
It has to do with the change of the mindset from "have to" to "want to".
Want is related to, "will" and willingness versus a depressive obligation and "have to".
Reason why,
The reason why being, empowerment during this journey from surving to thriving and entails a lift up from the inside to the inside.
And, an empowerment that can be found within.
It's like driving a car which you have to fill with petrol and, make sure it doesn't run out of fuel, especially, finding yourself in the middle of nowhere and in the dark if it does.
So, changing the mindset from " have to" to "want to" is like an added fuel to what's already there with the rest points.
The more fuel, the further you can get.
"More fuel" in this case is, point 18.
Empowerment includes the power of choice and from will and willingness, comes determination.
Along with the power of choice of course, comes responsibility that emotionally immature persons do not want, fail and refuse to take up, in a way grow up and, become an adult emotionally.
Therefore, the child is turned into an adult and used to cater for their needs.
That's just one consequences of the many.
Power of choice and cases in which there's no choice.
The power of choice is one of the greatest powers a human being possess and, one of the greatest knowledge a parent or teacher or mentor can pass onto a child.
It's the opposite in my opinion of " having to" and, which can save from many troubles, hardships and difficulties for example in the case of peer pressure you mentioned.
Cases of no choice,
It was commented by me to Crunia in one of her blogs that, "Sometimes, there's no choice".
For example, sometimes, I have no choice but, to take a certain action for example if and when certain criteria ot requirements are met.
Just one example of several thinking of now.
For better understanding purposes, I will give a very simple practical example through questions to you that everyone can apply and/or reflect upon that, demonstrares how and in what way, changing "have to" to "want to" can benefit, be used as a tool for the specific purpose.
Questions,
-Have you ever had anything in your life that, you had to do?.
-How did "having to" do it (whatever that was) make you feel?.
Now,
-Have you had anything in your life that you wanted to do?.
-How did "wanting to" do this make you feel?.
Yes, it is in regards to the "added pressure one may add (have to) over the other (want to)" that for me, it doesn't work.
You mentioned that emotionally immature people do not like responsibility. I am assuming you are speaking of adults as well. Why is that? It is especially interesting because I know some people, that I could never figure out why, but they just seem to neglect responsibility for themselves. And, some of them seem to be emotionally immature, in my opinion.
this is too much information for me. I may just wait until the VHS movie about all this comes out.
And if I need to buy tools, I'll have to go see if they have any at the swap meet or dollar store.
I think I could impress the ladies better if I mentioned a "Flour Sifter" instead.