On last Monday afternoon, I attended the session, Remembering Your Resources When Stressed: The Self Esteem Toolkit led by Jerry Weinberg. This session dwelt on a idea Jerry borrowed from Virginia Satir. We have the capability to do the things we need to do, but we often forget our powers when we’re stressed. The toolkit is a set of reminders of the capabilities we have. Jerry has added to Virginia’s original list, and published them in More Secrets of Consulting.

The book includes:

• The Wisdom Box
• The Golden Key
• The Courage Stick
• The Wishing Wand
• The Detective Hat (and the Magnifying Glass)
• The Yes/No Medallion
• The Heart
• The Mirror
• The Telescope
• The Fish-Eye Lens
• The Gyroscope
• The Egg, the Carabiner, and the Feather
• The Hourglass
• and The Oxygen Mask

You can read about them in the book. I have; these are not new to me. I attended the session to remind myself more powerfully, so that I’ll remember these tools more readily when I need them.

And Jerry reminded us that we can add other tools to our toolbox, too. So I suggested The Ear Trumpet. This is to remind me to listen to what others have to say, and to really hear it.